Address by PM Victor Ponta at the ceremony organized by the French Embassy

PM Victor Ponta: Mr. Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen Ministers, Ambassador, ladies and gentlemen, for me, it is a great honor to be here today, with French Prime Minister to celebrate the National Day of France.

I always thought that France is our biggest sister, nearer country of Romania, and now after two-day visit of the French Prime Minister, we can speak not only of a strategic partnership, but of a friendship, brotherhood, common projects, a common future for France and Romania.
At the same time, I believe that Romania had a lot to learn from France. There are differences, the 200 years between your and our Revolution. Now, I hope that the difference was reduced. I am very optimistic about the future. I think France and Romania will be together in the European Union, in the European Union's foreign policy, economic cooperation – there is much talk now about the economic cooperation, surely, I think it is very important. We must not forget our cultural relationship or other links between France and Romania regarding education and we still have much to discover. Yesterday, I had the honor, along with French Prime Minister to attend the inauguration of the new building of the French High School here in Bucharest. I am very proud that Bucharest, former little Paris, has now a French high school, but I remind that this high school named Anna de Noailles, a French personality of Romanian origin, still little known here in Romania, was a princess of the Brâncoveanu family. Next year we will celebrate 300 years since one of the heroes of Romanian history, ruler Brâncoveanu and his four sons were killed.
As I said, more needs to be learned and discovered, many things to do in our relationship. But today, I can say that we are satisfied with the course of our relationship and I am very proud of this. And again today, two days before the anniversary, allow me to say "Long live France!", "Long live Romania!"