French Embassy celebrates Bastille Day

It was a night of colours as the French Embassy celebrated Bastille Day at the University of the South Pacific Oceania Centre.

Speaking at the event, French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu, François-Xavier Léger says sixteen years ago, in 2007, was the last time when France hosted the Rugby World Cup and Fiji went to the quarter final for the second time since the competition was established.

He says Fiji lost to South Africa 37-20 but three lessons from that story is that in rugby everything can change anytime, the truth comes from the rugby field and there always can be a comeback.

He says it even happened in the past that a young law student joined the French army and the battlefield in 1914, and then became a famous statesman, named Ratu Sukuna and we could celebrate it at the occasion of Sukuna Day.

He adds it even happened that a young Fijian officer, named Sitiveni Rabuka, saved the life of a French comrade under the fire of the enemy, in Lebanon.

Leger says Vilimoni Delasau and Sireli Bobo played many years in different French clubs, and they are still very well respected players and the third lesson is that during the 2007 pool phase, Fiji won over Wales 38-34.

He says it is a good signal for the upcoming September 11th first game in Bordeaux.

The French Ambassador adds France and Fiji share, not only in rugby, but many commonalities, and they believe that on the international arena, the rule should be observed and the referee should be respected.

The Ambassador says we sit at the UN General Assembly, and we stand shoulder to shoulder on another field, which is UN peacekeeping operations.

Speaking on behalf of the Fiji Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chief of Protocol Rosa Dalituicama says she read that Bastille Day is celebrated with a mixture of solemn military parade and easy going mixture of fireworks and dancing.

She says the history of the French revolution initiated through the storming of Bastille in 1879 conveys important lessons about values of unity, courage and determination in the face adversity.

Dalituicama says these are values that materialize through shared history and the contribution of missionaries and educators to Fiji's early development and Fiji's service to the French Foreign Legion in World War 1.

Attending the Bastille Day celebration was the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Cabinet members, members of the diplomatic corp, and government officials.