The Diplomat in Spain

In the reception offered to celebrate the anniversary of the enthronement of Prince Albert II, Monaco’s Ambassador, Jean-Luc Van Klaveren, emphasized the commitment of the Principality to the preservation of the marine environment: “the preservation of marine ecosystems has been part of our history since 1911, when Prince Albert I created the Oceanographic Institute”.

Therefore, the ambassador (in the above photo, with his wife, toasting the close ties of Monaco and Spain and their respective royal families) announced that, as of 2020, Monaco will forbid kitchen utensils made of plastic, as it has been doing since January 1, 2017, with plastic bags.

Van Klaveren pointed out that Monaco -whose sovereign waters are 36 times more extensive than its territory and whose coast has two protected areas- “always looks to the sea for historical and cultural tradition”.

During the reception, the guests, among them many ambassadors, could enjoy the exhibition of several works of art by the sculptor Pepe Monserrate about the marine environment.

Text and photos: A. Rubio. 12/07/2018

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Monaco’s Ambassadors with the counselor of Institutional Relations of the Corps of Nobility of the Principality of Asturias, Alfredo José Leonard, and his wife.

South Africa’s Ambassador, Lulama Smuts, poses with the hosts.

The ambassadors of Monaco and Guinea-Bissau, Paulo Da Silva, with their respective wives.

Monaco’s Ambassador and his Dutch colleague, Matthijs van Bonzel, with their respective wives.

The Ambassador representative of the Arab League, Bashar Yaghi, with the hosts.

The hosts with Luxembourg’s Ambassador, Michèle Pranchère-Tomassini, and her husband.

Massi Massumeh and her daughter, Nasrin Zhiyan, with Monaco’s Ambassadors.

The Ambassador during his speech, with his wife, Anne Marie Tremoisaygue.

The chargé d’affaires of Iraq, Ali Shimran Hachem, with the honorary consul of Monaco to Madrid, Philippe Guillaumet.

Lebanon’s Ambassador, Hala Keyrouz, and her husband; Cyprus’s Ambassador, Koula Sophianou; Alfonso Ramonet and Faustino Horcajo, of the Archbishopric of Madrid.

The minister of the Embassy of Thailand, Natenapa Kongsri , and the consul of Malaysia, Faizel Bin Abd Rahman.

Indonesia’s Ambassador, Hermono, with the president of Peace and Cooperation, Joaquín Antuña, and Georgia Hristea.