The Official visit of President Paul Biya to France : Lessons of Patriotism and Loyalty

The Official visit of President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya to France re-enforced the historic ties between the two partners and ignited lessons of patriotism and loyalty within the Cameroonian community abroad. The official visit of France by President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya at the invitation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy ended

Friday on a positive note. At 13h05 (Paris time) last Friday, President Paul Biya arrived the Elysee Palace to receive military honours mounted by the first regiment of the French Republican Guards. At the end of the military honours was a smiling President Nicolas Sarkozy who welcomed his august guest and led him into the inner bowels of the Elysee Palace for a working lunch that lasted well over one hour. Emerging from the Elysee Palace accompanied by his host, President Paul Biya bid good bye to President Sarkozy before walking straight to the scores of journalists and microphones anxiously waiting for him. President Paul Biya told the media that he came to France at the invitation of President Nicolas Sarkozy and was received by French Officials in Bordeaux and the Quai d??Orsay. At the Elysee Palace, the President said he had fruitful discussions with his host touching on many subjects including African and world problems, adding that there was a perfect harmony of views between them. President Biya further thanked his host for the invitation and stressed the re-enforcement of the historic ties binding Cameroon and France. Answering a question from journalists on his future role and that of Cameroon in the aftermath of the death of Omar Bongo Ondimba, the President said Cameroon has always been at the frontline of cooperation within and beyond the sub-region. Later in the day the President and Wife met the Cameroonian Community at Pavillon Dauphine before heading for Saint Chapelle for a concert. Historic Ties Cameroon and France, it has been underlined throughout this visit, share rich and historic relations stretching through decades. One major lesson that emerges for President Paul Biya??s official visit to France is the strong, unshakable and multi-dimensional ties binding the two countries. The quality and quantity of audiences granted by the President Paul Biya between Thursday and Saturday, the meetings in Bordeaux and the Quai d??Orsay and the tête-à-tête at the Elysee are all defining moments, adding flesh and density to a healthy and rich historic partnership between Cameroon and France. The second lesson that resurfaces is the strength of the economic, political and cultural ties that serve as an unbreakable umbilical link between Paris and Yaounde. In Bordeaux as well as in the Quai d??Orsay and Elysee Palace, discussions strove to re-enforce links in these domains. The global economic crisis appeared to draw the two nations closer in a collective resolve to swim or sink together. The quality of French hospitality, in Bordeaux or Paris, left no one indifferent as to the importance of the host attached to the visit. The top French dignitaries received in audience by the President Paul Biya, all expressed respect to his views and vision. Tête-à-Tête At the Elysee Palace the historic, beneficial and mutually respectable relations between France and Cameroon were surely on the table for discussions. French President Nicolas Sarkozy as host no doubt thanked President Paul Biya for honouring his invitation and also re-assured his guest of the French resolve to re-enforce the bankrolling of projects within the C2D framework. As the flagship of the Central African Sub-region, thanks to its demographic weight, the peace and stability in Cameroon should be an asset for France and President Paul Biya obviously got congratulations for his brinkmanship. It is to the interest of the French to see this Cameroonian label exported to other countries within and beyond the Central African Sub-region. The tête-à-tête at the Elysee Palace was an opportunity for President Paul Biya to thank President Nicolas Sarkozy for his invitation and for the constant support from France at all times. The peaceful resolution of the Bakassi conflict, the debt cancellation by the Paris Club, the bilateral cooperation within the framework of the C2D and the increasing French investments in Cameroon are areas where French assistance deserves the gratitude of Cameroon as eloquently expressed by President Paul Biya. In words and deeds therefore, the official visit to France and particularly, the tête-à-tête at the Elysee Palace re-enforced the historic ties and the growing stature of Cameroon in a global world. Communion with Diaspora On the eve of the official visit to France, rumour peddlars and a handful of compatriots with doubtful motives swung into action with pseudo threats of possible hostile reception from Cameroonians in the diaspora. There was nothing of the sort. On the contrary, hundreds of Cameroonians resident in France and other neighbouring countries througed the Orly airport in Paris and the Railway Station in Bordeaux to give President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya, a standing ovation. In song and dance, hundreds of Cameroonians praised their President for bringing democracy to their Fatherland and for the peace and stability reigning in Cameroon. Last Friday, at the Pavillon Dauphine in Paris President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya met with a huge number of Cameroonians in the diaspora. In a heavily applauded speech President Paul Biya showed his attachment to the aspirations of his people. He gave an exact account of the economic, political, and social situation at home and called on compatriots to be a sterling barometre reading of Cameroon??s image. President Paul Biya promised examining the issue of dual nationality and the participation of Cameroonians of the diasporas in the national electoral process. The President??s speech triggered loud and positive applause from the thousands of Cameroonians that strove to shake hands with their First Couple. The lesson that emerges here stresses patriotism and solidarity within the Cameroon family at home and abroad. The official visit of the President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya to France re-enforced the strong ties between Cameroon and France and showed to the world the loyalty of Cameroonians in the diaspora to their President and the institutions he represents.

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