Vincent Floreani, senior foreign affairs counselor of the
permanent mission of France to the United Nations, made public
comments throughout campus Thursday and Friday, on various
international issues ranging from France’s stance on Iraq to the
expansion of the European Union.
The political science department invited Floreani to campus for
the annual Mississippi Model Security Council conference two weeks
ago. He had to reschedule his visit to MSU because of the report of
the U.N. weapons inspectors.
Hannah E. Britton, an assistant professor at MSU, served as the
event’s coordinator.
“He (Floreani)has spoken to close to 200 MSU students and over
50 Starkville residents during his visit,” Britton said. “He has
been able to answer very specific and direct questions about the
role of France in the United Nations, about the European
perspective on a potential war with Iraq and about the relationship
between France and the United States. This has been a unique
opportunity for the students and for Starkville.”
Floreani attended the Mississippi Model Security Council class
on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Bowen Hall, where he spoke to the class
for 20 minutes on issues primarily regarding France’s interests in
the U.N. Security Council. The class then participated in a
question and answer session with the diplomat, asking him questions
ranging from France’s views on Iraq and North Korea to the United
States plans for implementing a national missile defense
system.
He spoke again on Friday to several additional MSU classes,
including meeting with several students in the foreign language
department. He talked with French students about the cultural and
political life in France and also attended an MSU tennis team game
that Friday afternoon since several of the team members are from
France. Robert Raymond in the foreign languages deptartment set up
a reception and dinner for Floreani who attended with the French
students and local dignitaries.
Floreani additionally spoke in a question and answer session
with two joint courses in the political science department,
National Security Policy and International Relations, at 11 p.m. in
Bowen Hall on topics regarding the expanding role of the European
Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Floreani then finished his presentations in a question and
answer session open to the public held in the John Grisham Room at
the MSU Library at 3:30 p.m. During the forum he gave his own views
and compared them with some of his government’s official positions
regarding the situations on Iraq and North Korea.
Remarking on France’s belief in working toward a safer
multipolar world, Floreani said, “Our vision of the world is that
the Security Council should be at the center of any use of
force.”
Floreani then went on to state that France’s official position
regarding Iraq wasn’t necessarily against war or the United States,
but against any party taking unilateral action before making an
informed decision once the U.N. weapons inspectors were finished
conducting their investigation.
Britton commented on Floreani, stating that he had been
approachable, open and forthcoming with all students.
“Mr. Floreani has been a particularly important visitor to the
campus,” remarked Britton. “Mr. Floreani is a high ranking
diplomat, and we are fortunate that he was able to leave the United
Nations to come to Mississippi State, given the critical issues
facing the Security Council and the United Nations.”
Currently, Counselor Floreani coordinates European issues before
the Security Council on the Balkans, Georgia, Abkhazia, and
cooperation between European member states in the Security
Council.
Prior to his arrival at the United Nations in New York, Floreani
served in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Unit of the United
Nations Division. There, he was responsible for issues concerning
Iraq, Western Sahara, Libya and reform of the Security Council,
among other duties.
He has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Personnel
Division responsible for training and as vice-consul in the French
embassy in Bucharest, Romania.