The Monaco Monitor

The prince attended the show honouring the princess’ remarkable life, which was cut short 25 years ago, during an official visit to Japan this week. ‘High Society’ actress Grace became one of the glamour-era’s most iconic names before marrying Monaco’s Prince Rainier III in 1956 in a true-life fairytale. The silver-screen sweetheart passed away aged 52 in 1982. (more…)

On April 25, 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Monaco Head of State Prince Albert II in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai. Wen said China and Monaco had always respected each other and treated each other as equals with bilateral ties deepening continuously despite far distance and large disparities on size, population and social systems. He said currently bilateral ties enjoy a sound basis and broad prospects for development as well. China would like to continue high-level contact with Monaco and expand cooperation in finance, insurance, tourism and environmental protection, so as to promote bilateral ties for the benefit of both peoples, said Wen. Albert II expressed hope that both sides will deepen friendship, expand cooperation and achieve lasting development of bilateral ties. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and other officials attended the meeting. 

Chinese President Hu Jintao met here Tuesday with Monacan Prince Albert II, who is on the first-ever China tour by a Monacan head of state. “The visit would turn over a new chapter for the cooperation between China and Monaco in the new century,” said Hu. (more…)

China and Monaco will step up their cooperation in their complementary fields, said China’s top legislator Wu Bangguo here Wednesday. China is developing its service sector while Monaco has its advantages in finance and tourism and values environmental protection. The two sides can enhance their cooperation to complement their advantages, said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress. China highly appreciates Monaco’s support in such multi-lateral affairs as 2008 Olympic Games, 2010 Shanghai Expo and the United Nations, Wu told visiting Monaco Prince Albert II. The two countries upgraded their diplomatic relations to ambassadorial level last February, which brought bilateral ties to a new development stage, said Albert II. Albert II extended his welcome for China’s decision to make Monaco on the list of destinations for Chinese tourists. As a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Albert II spoke highly of the preparation of the Beijing Olympics 

Feel like spending the summer having fun? With the Pass’Sport Culture, it’s possible. Geared towards youngsters between the ages of 13 and 21, who are either residents of Monaco or go to school there, the Pass’Sport Culture gives them the opportunity to try out around thirty different sports or cultural activities throughout July and August.  

Every week, various dance courses are organised (salsa, oriental dance, Afro-Latin dance, hip-hop, body expression), creative and cultural workshops (photography, making short films, plastic and graphic arts as well as the theatre). For the sportiest among you, this year you will be given the chance to start or to improve a whole range of activities including judo, aikido, fencing, table tennis, beach volley ball and tennis. Another idea: how about an afternoon of mountain biking in La Turbie or a day of water hiking in the back country…? The Pass’Sport Culture is set up by the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs

Fight Aids Monaco and the Department for International Cooperation of the Department of External Relations began a collaboration programme in 2006 aimed at strengthening Madagascan capacities to prevent and combat AIDS. (more…)

Created on the initiative of the Monaco Government Department of Social Affairs and Health and the Monegasque Red Cross, supported by the Monaco City Council, the DASS and the Order of Malta, Villa Speranza Albert II is a day centre for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s or similar diseases (cognitive behavioral disorders).  

Officially unveiled by H.S.H. Prince Albert II during a ceremony in which the Sovereign Prince paid tribute to Mr. Denis Ravera, Counselor for Social Affairs and Health, who sadly passed away last week, this new 3 storey functional unit housed in a former private mansion in avenue Bel Respiro, meets a public health need within the geriatric and psychiatric areas. Patients who will be accommodated in the Centre from Wednesday 25th April suffer from concentration problems, loss of memory, and loss of intellectual ability and are unable to carry out everyday tasks. The goal of the care centre is also to prevent families with a relative suffering from such disorders from becoming exhausted. The Centre offers such patients hotel services (accommodation, catering) as well as special activities such as memory workshops, music therapy, board games, group workshops, various entertainment and even outings. All patients will receive a tailor-made and individual action plan. Composed of a team of ten staff managed by Doctor Alain Pesce (Head of the Geriatric Unit at the CHPG and Director of the Centre) and Mr. Philippe Migliasso (Health Officer), the centre also has a psychologist, a speech therapist and an occupational therapist. The Centre will be able to accommodate 15 patients a day, preferably for a whole day, from Wednesday 25th April 2007, the official opening date.

The creation of marine protected areas is one of ACCOBAMS’ contributions towards achieving the 2010 goals. With this in mind, during the Third Meeting of the Contracting Parties which is being held in Dubrovnik from 22nd to 25th October, the Contracting Parties to the Agreement will be called to express their opinion regarding a new proposal to create vast protected areas in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, geared towards certain populations of the most endangered whales and dolphins in the world. (more…)

Special footballers welcomed to Principality. The Principality of Monaco will host the European 5-aside Football tournament this Thursday April 26th. Organised by the Special Olympics Monaco and under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert, the competition will welcome teams from 14 countries, who will clash on the pitch. The Monegasque competition is the qualifier for the World Games in Shanghai in October this year, for which Monaco has already qualified. Each country will face another team of the same level (there are four levels 1-4), within its category. At the end of the competition the first two in each category will be selected for Shanghai. Each team is composed of five players (3 handicapped players and 2 partners-teachers). The opening ceremony will take place at 9.45am on Thursday April 26th. Several events will take place throughout the day. All the teams are invited by OGC Nice to watch the Nice-Auxerre match on Saturday April 28th. The tournament will end on Saturday at 12.30pm with a special ceremony to award winners with their medals. Entrance is free and open to the public.

Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May 2007 at the Théâtre des Variétés. The Department of National Education, Youth and Sport (D.E.N.J.S.), the Monegasque Red Cross (C.R.M.) and FIGHT AIDS MONACO (F.A.M.) are uniting together once again to focus on a common project by organizing a special event for students in the final year of secondary school regarding the prevention of AIDS and sexually transmissible diseases.  

Over the last few years, it appears that young adults are being less careful, although the risks still are very high; today 40 million people are infected with the AIDS virus throughout the world. UNAIDS has estimated that the under 25s represent half of all new HIV* infections. In France, from the 13 325 new cases diagnosed between June 2003 and January 2006, 28% concerned young adults under the age of 29, the majority young women. The association Solidarité Sida, used to implementing action for a young audience, has been asked to present an « interactive event focused on sexuality and the prevention of AIDS » in the Principality. After the huge success of the «nuits du Zapping» event, Solidarité Sida introduced the « après-midi du Zapping » - a fun and focused way of teaching the young generation about prevention. The principle of the afternoon is based on an interactive game with questions that the participants may have on sexuality and AIDS; a certain amount of time is also spent meeting professionals from the health industry. D.E.N.J.S., C.R.M. and F.A.M. would like to raise young adults’ awareness of the issues at stake regarding the HIV epidemic and of the reality of everyday life for those infected.