The Foundation for Post Conflict Development

The Foundation for Post Conflict Development

On the Occassion of the 4th Anniversary of the Ascension to the Throne of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco

12 July 2009, Raffles Hotel, Singapore

Your Excellency Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC

Your Excellencies Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Distinguished Singapore Government Bodies

Your Excellency, Mme Jacky Deromedi, Honorary Consul of Monaco

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends of Monaco

It is my honour to be with you today on this special occasion to commemorate the 4th Anniversary of the Ascension to the throne of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco. It is an appropriate moment to highlight a re-newed effort by the Philanthropic Prince toward our common humanity in 3 ways: Quality Leadership; Commitment to Sustainable Peace and an Evolving Legacy.

Quality Leadership

There are no adequate words nor time to describe all of the humanitarian actions of Monaco, for at present these actions touch all corners of the globe with the help of 50 local Non-Governmental Organizations.

Timor-Leste is but one example of where heartfelt projects are ongoing due to the quality of Prince Albert II’s leadership to engage -not necessarily in response to a natural disaster - but in response to the needs that define the essence of humanity. I will present a glimpse of Monaco’s actions in Timor-Leste via slide-show images that translates into confidence building, achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and a commitment to sustainable peace.

Commitment to Sustainable Peace

Because of Prince Albert II’s personal commitment to sustainable peace, the root causes of poverty are being tackled in Timor-Leste through community based approaches. For example, Monaco is the catalyst for changing the birthing culture of Timor-Leste through a global partnership with the Government of the Principality , the Monaco Red Cross and The Foundation for Post Conflict Development . Through the creation of the very first maternity clinic – The Prince Rainier III Maternity Clinic - the lives of mothers and babies are being saved. To date, more than 448 healthy babies have been born – whereby the first boy is named after his kind benefactor: “Albert”. The Maternity Clinic started as a pilot project and has evolved. It will be used as the model and be replicated throughout the country’s 64 sub-districts and is included in Timor-Leste’s National Development Plan.

On April 18-19 2008, Prince Albert II made an historic visit to Timor-Leste to inaugurate the country’s first Maternity Clinic. This special day coincided with the wedding anniversary of His Beloved Parents Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco- a treasured fact by the local community. During this visit, the Prince met with many of Timor-Leste’s high officials, the sporting community and inaugurated the Becora Youth Center whereby the Sovereign Prince planted a symbolic tree.

Prince Albert II’s concern for the environment is encapsuled in the Foundation that bares His Name. However, above and beyond the Prince’s Foundation work, the Sovereign Prince has directed the Government of Monaco to support 5 years of The Reforestation and Family Income Project under the auspices of President Jose Ramos-Horta’s Anti-Poverty Initiatives. This is an integrated programme that is creating kitchen gardens, diversification of food crops, fish ponds, and shade trees so that families can increase their nutritional intake on one hand and earn a living on the other, all while making a positive impact on the environment.

Evolving Legacy

The future of Monaco-Timor-Leste relations is embraced by the past . In 1979, the beloved Princess Grace of Monaco visited the Timorese Refugee camps in Portugal at a time when Statehood was but a dream. In this regard and in Her image, special medals will be awarded on 30 August 2009 to commemorate the 30 Year Anniversary of Her visit as well as the 10 Year Anniversary of the United Nations- led referendum that allowed the Timorese people to choose their self-determined right of independence. Her Excellency Madame Jacky Deromedi will represent the Sovereign Prince on this occasion and award the first 10 honorees of Timor-Leste’s International Solidarity Movement, an occasion that will be repeated for the next 10 years.

I invite Your Excellencies to pay close attention to the continued development of North –South Cooperation between Monaco and Timor-leste. A special announcement will be made on 30 August 2009 in Dili whereby I assure you, the best is yet to come!

In conclusion, I stand before you, proud to have facilitated this monumental work. Monaco’s combined efforts in Timor-Leste symbolize the evolution of the humanitarian legacy of the Principality brought to a new level by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II. Assisting the marginalized of this world are part of the fabric of the Principality's identity whereby it is evident that Monaco is indeed synonymous with Humanitarian Action.

Excellencies and Friends,

Thank you for your kind attention.

Pictured above: 19 April 2008, on the occasion of the Inauguration of the Prince Rainier III Maternity Clinic in Same, Timor-Leste. (left:) Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão shows attendees first baby girl born in the Prince Rainier III Maternity Clinic. Photo credit: Martine Perret UNMIT/DPI (center:) H.S.H Prince Albert II and Timorese youth participate in a tree planting ceremony during the FPCD/FXG Bercora Youth Center Inauguration in Becora District, Timor-Leste, in honour of Monaco’s reforestation efforts. Photo credit: Palace of Monaco (right:) H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and FPCD Executive Director Ms. Claudia Abate present portrait of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III and Prince Albert II to Chief Midwife Justa Pereira. Photo credit: Palace of Monaco

12 July 2009/Singapore