French ambassador to speak at Baker Institute

French ambassador to speak at Baker Institute

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

France’s ambassador to the United States, Pierre Vimont, will speak at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy March 17. His speech, titled “France and America: A New Era for Old Friends,” begins at 6 p.m.

PIERRE VIMONT

Vimont was appointed by President Nicolas Sarkozy Aug. 1, 2007. Prior to his present appointment, Vimont was chief of staff to the minister of foreign affairs, a position he had held since 2002. He was previously ambassador and permanent representative of France to the European Union from 1999 to 2002.

Vimont joined the French Foreign Service in 1977. He was first posted to London where he was first secretary from 1978 to 1981. He then spent the next four years with the Press and Information Office at the Quai d’Orsay. From 1985 to 1986 he was seconded to the Institute for East-West Security Studies (now the EastWest Institute) in New York. After returning to Europe, he served as second counselor with the Permanent Representation of France to the European Communities in Brussels from 1986 to 1990, and was subsequently chief of staff to the minister delegate for European affairs from 1990 to 1993.

He went on to serve as director for development and scientific, technical and educational cooperation, and then for cultural, scientific and technical relations. He was deputy director general of the Cultural, Scientific and Technical Relations Department from 1996 to 1997 and then director of European Cooperation from 1997 to 1999.

Born in 1949, Vimont holds a degree in law and is a graduate of the Institute of Political Studies and the National School of Administration. Vimont is a chevalier of the National Order of Merit.

The event will be held in James A. Baker III Hall’s Doré Commons.

Rice faculty, staff and students who want to attend must RSVP by e-mail (bipprsvp@rice.edu) or by fax (713-348-5993).