Michael Bloomberg ; Christy Ferer, Benoît d’Aboville, Philiipe Lalliot

Madame Christy Ferer a été décorée des insignes de Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur par Benoît d’Aboville, le 2 février 2010, lors d’une cérémonie organisée au Consulat en présence du Maire de New York, Michael Bloomberg.

Philippe Lalliot, Christy Ferer, Michael Bloomberg

Christy Ferer est journaliste et présidente de diverses sociétés de communication. Francophone et grande amie de la France, elle joue un rôle très positif pour les relations franco-américaines. Très impliquée dans la fondation « World Trade Center Memorial », Mme Ferer a fait preuve d’un dévouement exemplaire dans l’organisation des cérémonies de commémoration des attentats du 11 septembre 2001.

La plus haute décoration décernée par le gouvernement français a été créée par Napoléon Bonaparte pour récompenser les conduites remarquables et extraordinaires dans les domaines miltaire, public et privé. L’ordre de la Légion d’Honneur est composé de cinq grades : chevalier, officier, commandeur, grand officier et grand’ croix. Les bénéficiaires sont nommés par décret présidentiel.

Philippe Lalliot

Mots d’introduction du Consul général, Philippe Lalliot :

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to welcome you all the Consulate of France and to tell you how pleased I am to receive you tonight. Some of you have come from very far. All of us are here to share this moment of friendship with Christy. This reception is entirely dedicated to her. Thank you Christy, for having the idea of organizing this Legion of Honor ceremony at the Consulate.

We have amongst us a very special guest. I was asked to introduce him. The problem is that the Mayor of New York does not need any introduction !

I racked my brain all weekend and finally I said : return to the basics. I went and bought Bloomberg by Bloomberg ! It’s a fascinating book which I recommend that you all read. We learn notably, page 231 of the book, that Michael Bloomberg is interested only in three elected offices : that of Mayor, that of Governor and that of President. Do the math !

Without further delay, Mayor Bloomberg, the floor is yours.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I was also asked to introduce Benoit d’Aboville who will, in a few minutes, present Christy with the Insignia of the Legion of Honor.

You all know Benoit. You know the exceptional diplomat. You know he was, among other prestigious positions, the Ambassador of France in Prague, Warsaw and the French Ambassador to NATO as well.

You also know that he was Consul General of France in New York. With the presence of Francois Delattre, here with us tonight, you have three Consuls or former Consul for the price of one ! Their presence tonight shows at what point New York leaves its mark on us when we have lived here and that we remain forever attached to the friends that we make here.

Of Benoit d’Aboville, you know all this. But there is one thing that you certainly don’t know about him. In the French Diplomatic Services, Benoit d’Aboville is in charge of a very particular and difficult mission. Benôit d’Aboville is indeed the one in charge of evaluating and grading each Ambassador and each Consul General. He is in a way, the Grand Inquisitor !

You will understand that I’m a bit nervous tonight. I feel good in New York and I’d like to stay a few more years with you. I’d better be up to the task, behave well and not eat with my hands !

Monsieur l’Ambassadeur, Cher Benoît, the floor is yours.

Pour voir plus de photos, visitez la page Flickr du Consulat.