Why, after leaving the ENA, did you choose the Quai d’Orsay, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
“I could hardly see myself entering more prestigious administrations, where I would have spent my life climbing all the ranks of office manager and remaining in the same mold. At the Quai d’Orsay, what attracted me was the great diversity and geography and professions: economy, strategy, culture, consular, European, environment, biodiversity… For 40 years, you can have very varied activities . It appealed to me. It’s no longer like that today, but after leaving the ENA, I very quickly left for a post outside of Paris. It’s strange because, after a competition, the ideal would be to stay at the central administration for at least three years in order to know it well and serve it better. I went to Argentina, came back, left again. »
How did these first trips go?
“I had made two trips to Latin America. I didn’t speak Spanish. If you travel alone, you get started quickly: it’s a question of survival! In 1989, everything was difficult for the Argentines, inflation of 200%, looting everywhere… After these stays, I returned to Paris as mission manager to the director of African affairs. »
You then met another diplomat, whom you married?
“I met Anne, another diplomat who entered the Quai d’Orsay by another route. We got married. Two diplomats: it’s not too complicated at the start of your career. Afterwards, you have to enter large embassies. She was a specialist in the Russian world and Central Europe. He was offered Brasília. We stayed there for three years. I had a very good Portuguese teacher. To do interesting work, you have to speak the language. With the ambassadors, we went to see the landless peasants. »
Have you done several ambassadorial missions to South America?
“With my wife, in Brazil, I took care of internal politics and she of external ones. Afterwards, I was consul general in São Paulo. In Brazil, I experienced the arrival of Lula. Before being ambassador to Venezuela, I was deputy director for Latin America. In Venezuela, France had big economic interests because of oil. Afterwards, I found out about the embassy in Colombia. France was really interested in this country. During my mandate, a Prime Minister, a President of the Republic, a Minister of Foreign Affairs came. I had the tools to support French companies established in Latin America. The French alliances are very present there. »
What struck you there?
“One of my best memories is having set up a French high school in Medellín, the country’s second city. And there was the France/Colombia year with millions of visitors. A positive influence on us! »
Did you end your career in France, in Occitanie?
“Three years before my retirement, a new position was created in the regions: diplomatic advisor to the regional prefect. This involves, among other things, seeing how local players (industry, universities, culture) work internationally. An interesting comprehension function. In Toulouse and Occitanie, I contributed to developing the Latin America and Caribbean Weeks, organized since 2014 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, setting up more than 70 events. »
Have you established relationships between Latin America and Brionnais?
“I remember the year of Brazil in France, in 2005. All of Marcigny was on Brazilian time! Restaurants, harmony, artists, exhibitions, flags everywhere! Then in 2009, I came with the Venezuelan ambassador to the Saint-Christophe-en-Brionnais market: they were considering bringing Charolais cows there. We also remember the Venezuelan artist Juvenal Ravelo who created, in 2012, a mural on the wall of the Marcigny stadium. »
What lesson do you learn from your journey?
“You have to believe in yourself. You should never say that you are not capable of doing this or that. Often, I hear people, regarding competitions, say: yes, but there are 3,000 candidates… I’m going to choose something easier! No, if you have motivation, you have to go for it, try your luck, not devalue yourself. If I had relied on the statistics, I only had a one in 20 chance of joining the ENA, despite the two years of preparatory class! And no chance of entering the Quai d’Orsay. On the other hand, when you consider an international career (diplomacy, large private companies, institutions, editor’s note), you have to see the exciting nature of it but also evaluate the constraints, especially with a family. »
Canada
