Biography of New U.S. Ambassador to France & Monaco

Biography of the New U.S. Ambassador to France & Monaco

Charles H. Rivkin

Charles H. Rivkin was nominated the Ambassador of the United States ofAmerica to France on June 1, 2009 by President Obama and was sworn into officeon August 3, 2009.Charles Rivkin recently served as the President and CEO of Wildbrain, anaward-winning entertainment company, from 2005-2009. Prior to joiningWildbrain, Mr. Rivkin worked for the Jim Henson Company. He served as thePresident and Chief Executive Officer from 2000-2003 and as the President andChief Operating Officer from 1995-2000. Mr. Rivkin was the Executive VicePresident and Chief Operating Officer from 1994-1995, Senior Vice President andChief Operating Officer from 1991-1994, Vice President from 1990-1991, andDirector of Planning from 1988-1990. Mr. Rivkin served on the Jim HensonCompany’s Board of Directors from 1990-2005. Other work experiences includeserving as a financial analyst with Salomon Brothers from 1984-1986 andinternships with Renault and Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Rivkin was recently involved with a number of outside organizationsincluding: Member, Pacific Council on International Policy, since 2007; Member,Homeland Security Advisory Council, Business Executives for National Security,2008-2009; Member, Young Presidents’ Organization, 1996-2009; Chairman, Bel-Air, 2004-2005; Director, Save the Children, 1997-2003; Director, Chrysalis-Changing Lives through Jobs, 1996-2002. Mr. Rivkin is the recipient of an awardfrom the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for the Best InternationalChildren’s Television Show and is also a recipient of the Spirit of ChrysalisAward.

Since 1968, Mr. Rivkin and his family have presented the U.S. StateDepartment’s “Rivkin Award,” honoring “intellectual courage and constructivedissent” in the American Foreign Service. Mr. Rivkin received his M.B.A. fromHarvard University and his B.A. in political science with distinction ininternational relations from Yale College.

Juy 2009 Testimony of Ambassador-Designate to France & Monaco, Charles H. Rivkin Before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Testimony of Charles H. Rivkin
Ambassador-Designate to France and Monaco
July 7, 2009
Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and members of the Committee. I‟d also like to thank my Congressman, Henry Waxman, for his kind words.

I‟m very pleased to have with me today my lifelong friend and brother, Robert Rivkin, whom I‟d like to introduce to the Committee. I also want to acknowledge my wife Susan Tolson and my children Elias and Lily Rivkin. Although they are unable to attend this hearing, I wouldn‟t be here without their endless support.

Madam Chairwoman, it is a tremendous honor for me to appear before you today as President Obama‟s nominee to serve as the United States Ambassador to France and Monaco. I am deeply grateful to both President Obama and Secretary Clinton for the trust they have placed in me to serve as Chief of Mission to our oldest friend and ally.

France has always shared our nation‟s core values and has been a tireless champion of democracy, freedom and human rights. Today, our partnership is stronger than ever, and as President Sarkozy recently observed “...never in the history of our two countries have the United States and France been so close to one another on major issues, major questions.” Both our countries understand that when America is united with a strong Europe, no issue is too great for us to solve together. To underscore this resolve, President Obama made a point of visiting France twice during his first five months in office. If confirmed by the United States Senate, I intend to build on the existing, positive momentum between the United States and France and use this unique moment in time to further strengthen and deepen our already strong relationship.

If confirmed, I hope to bring an energy and fresh perspective to one of America‟s most important partnerships. We are at the beginning of a new and historic era in French-American relations that was recently highlighted by France‟s decision to rejoin NATO‟s integrated military command structure after a 43 year absence. Today, France stands by our side and is an indispensable ally on almost every major issue. France is fighting against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda with our troops in Afghanistan and has provided critical financial support for counter-insurgency efforts in Pakistan. As a leader in the EU, France has worked closely with us to advance a two-state solution in the Middle East and continues to play a central role in maintaining coordinated, international pressure on Iran. France is a leading voice on climate change and a strong ally in energy and security matters. Monaco is also a good partner for our country in environmental protection, international development and other important global issues.

As a former CEO with international experience, I‟m pleased to note that over $1.3 billion in commercial transactions take place every day between the United States and France. French subsidiaries in the U.S. provide nearly 500,000 American jobs and the U.S. is the largest foreign investor in France employing over 600,000 French citizens. If confirmed, I will work with the French government to ensure continued free and open trade between our two countries.

I also hope to build on the successful efforts of my predecessors in making public diplomacy one of the top priorities for our mission to France and Monaco. I believe my history and media background have prepared me well to engage Europe‟s young generation of first time voters by helping to create a sense of common values and purpose with the United States. Following Secretary Clinton‟s vision of 21st century statecraft, I hope to engage Europe‟s future leaders through digital technology and „smart power‟ initiatives which will open doors and create new opportunities for dialogue.Finally, if confirmed I would hope to use the skills I‟ve acquired as an MBA and CEO to lead the large and complex embassy operation in Paris. I have spent my career building and managing organizations and look forward to helping maximize the effectiveness of our Mission to France and Monaco.

Members of the Committee, I also want you to know that having the chance to represent our country‟s interests in France would be deeply personal for me. My father, William Rivkin, marched in Patton‟s army and was awarded the French Chevalier-Publique for his role in the liberation of France. He then went on to serve as Chief of Mission in French speaking countries where I lived as a young boy; Luxembourg under President Kennedy and then Senegal and The Gambia under President Johnson. Although my father died while serving his country in 1967, he instilled in me the belief that public service is not only an obligation, but the highest possible honor. I always dreamed of following in his footsteps, but never imagined that I might have the opportunity to serve in a country that I admire as much as France.

When I was a young man, I had the wonderful experience of living with a French family in Rennes while studying at the Institut Franco-Américain and had the chance to explore the countryside in Brittany, Normandy, Burgundy and Franche-Comté during my stay. I worked as a “stagiaire” for Renault in Paris and have taken countless business trips to France over the last twenty years. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for France as well as the French people and culture.I have always been active in public service, but I am particularly fortunate to have been connected to the U.S. State Department for most of my life through the American Foreign Service Association. My family and I have proudly presented the William R. Rivkin award at the State Department for the last 42 years, honoring mid-level Foreign Service Officers who exhibit “intellectual courage and constructive dissent” in the line of duty. I have had the chance to witness how the brilliant, hard working and often under-appreciated men and women of the U.S. Foreign Service change the world through their tireless efforts on behalf of our country. President Obama once served as a judge for this award, which was founded on the belief that dissent is the highest form of patriotism.

Madame Chairwoman and members of the Committee, if confirmed by the United States Senate, I will do everything in my power to strengthen and deepen the ties that have bound France and America together since the birth of our great country. I look forward to this extraordinary challenge and hope to have the chance to serve the United States of America at this important moment in history. Thank you, and I look forward to any questions you might have.

L'Avortement Thérapeutique Devient Légal en Principauté

From: http://www.monaco.maprincipaute.com/actu/actudet_--L-avortement-therapeutique-devient-legal-en-Principaute-_loc-881925_actu.Htm

L'Avortement Thérapeutique Devient Légal en Principauté
A 21 h 30, hier soir, les conseillers ont légalisé l'avortement thérapeutique. : Photo Marc Mehran
jeudi 02 avril 2009


Les conseillers nationaux de la majorité et de l'opposition ont voté, hier soir, en bloc, pour la dépénalisation de l'interruption médicale de grossesse

La boîte trônait sur le bureau en arc de cercle de l'hémicycle. Une boîte bleue, toute simple, contenant... des préservatifs. Un objet incongru au coeur d'un parlement et pourtant... Cette boîte prenait tout son sens, hier soir, en plein débat sur le projet de loi visant à légaliser l'interruption médicale de grossesse. Laquelle a été validée à l'unanimité peu avant 21 h 30. Sous des applaudissements nourris. Cette boîte de préservatifs, amenée par Jean-François Robillon, conseiller national, de surcroît médecin, sonnait comme un défi. Une boîte pour rappeler, à l'évidence, les propos du pape sur les préservatifs.

Préservatifs dans l'hémicycle
Mais surtout une boîte pour fustiger les propos tenus par Monseigneur Barsi, l'archevêque de Monaco, dans notre édition de mardi. Et Jean-François Robillon de s'élever « contre les bien-pensants dogmatiques ».
Traits graves, verbe soigneusement choisi, l'assemblée a offert hier soir un visage déterminé. Tant dans les rangs de la majorité que de l'opposition. Des élus déterminés à se débarrasser « d'un archaïsme d'un autre temps », selon Anne-Poyard Vatrican. Jusqu'à hier soir, selon la loi monégasque, une femme violée méritait encore dix ans de prison si elle avortait en Principauté.

Il est peu d'écrire que les conseillers nationaux ont été choqués par les propos tenus avant-hier dans notre journal par Monseigneur Barsi. Tous l'ont exprimé. Choqués également par les propos du comité de bioéthique diocésain, dans notre édition d'hier. « Le point de vue de l'église catholique, sur la question de l'avortement, si j'ai du mal à le comprendre, je le respecte », a souligné Catherine Fautrier. « Mais pourquoi attendre la veille du vote du texte pour s'exprimer sur le sujet de manière aussi sévère et provocatrice, sinon pour jeter le trouble une dernière fois ! (...) La réalité, c'est qu'il y a un monde qui évolue et une église catholique qui reste malheureusement en marge de cette évolution, et je le regrette. » Et Catherine Fautrier de souligner : « Personne ne peut se mettre à la place de la femme enceinte confrontée avec son conjoint à un choix douloureux, qu'il soit celui de mettre fin à une grossesse désirée, ou celui d'élever un enfant lourdement affecté et handicapé. »

Peu avant, Stéphane Valeri, président du Conseil national, avait lui aussi évoqué un texte « singulièrement assombri par des expressions de dernière minute ». Le président a ensuite exhorté les conseillers : « Rassurez nos compatriotes sur notre dignité et notre capacité à ne pas tomber dans le piège qui nous est tendu. Nous pouvons être fiers de la méthode qui nous a permis d'arriver à ce texte. Elle répond en tout point à la volonté exprimée par notre prince souverain de mettre en place un groupe de travail en charge d'arriver de manière pondérée et équilibrée à ce résultat. Cette loi n'imposera rien aux femmes, mais leur donnera simplement le droit de choisir. »

Dans les gradins fournis du public, Monseigneur Fabrice Gallo, le curé de Sainte-Dévote, prenait consciencieusement des notes. Le ministre d'Etat, Jean-Paul Proust, avait en préambule souligné « que ces dispositions n'ont pas un objectif moral. Cela relève de la conscience de chacun et j'écoute à ce sujet avec beaucoup de respect le message de notre archevêque qui s'adresse à la conscience de chacun. Notre projet de loi a un objectif plus modeste... Il se contente de supprimer des sanctions pénales infligées par la société à la maman et au médecin dans des situations douloureuses bien précises. »

A 21 h 30, la messe était dite.
Grégory Leclerc
Monaco-Matin

French Article on Church's Protest of Monaco's Effort to Legalize Abortion

Projet de légalisation de l'IMG a Monaco : l'Eglise proteste
Posté le 31 mars, 2009 - 01:00

Une telle confrontation entre les autorités monégasques et l'Eglise de Monaco n'était pas arrivée en Principauté « depuis le règne d'Albert 1er », explique-t-on à l'archevêché à propos du projet de loi sur l'interruption médicale de grossesse (IMG), que le Conseil national doit voter demain soir en séance publique.


Sur ce sujet éminemment polémique, surtout dans un pays où la religion catholique est religion d'Etat, Mgr Bernard Barsi, archevêque de Monaco a des mots très durs :
« Dans ce projet de loi, c'est surtout un symbole qui semble visé. Mais d'aucuns, ici ou ailleurs, ne supportaient plus cette exception monégasque dont un long travail de sape idéologique avec ses relais médiatiques a pu venir à bout avec le texte qui nous est proposé. »

« Il est navrant qu'à une période de son histoire politique et constitutionnelle où la Principauté de Monaco acquiert une plus grande indépendance et insiste sur sa spécificité culturelle, on choisisse délibérément de s'aligner sur d'autres pays pour y rechercher de prétendus modèles de société. »

« Si bien qu'il est désormais facile de prévoir la suite si ce projet venait à être voté car il est à craindre qu'il ne soit que la première étape d'un processus qui a suivi partout ailleurs le même scénario qui ne fait que commencer. »

« Quand on dit que ce projet ne concerne que les cas extrêmes visés par le texte, on ne dit pas la vérité et on cache la réalité. Tout le reste risque de suivre et le pire est à redouter parce qu'on n'aura de cesse de prétendre mettre Monaco au diapason du minimum de standard éthique. On ne peut pas appeler progrès ce qui constitue une régression dans la considération due à la dignité et à l'intangibilité intrinsèques de l'être humain ».

Un projet de loi contraire à la Constitution ?
« A ce titre, on pourrait s'interroger sur la compatibilité de ce projet de loi avec notre Constitution. Ce texte inspire des réserves quant au respect de la liberté de chacun eu égard aux insuffisances de la clause de conscience telle qu'elle est prévue à l'article 5 II in fine.

Les dispositions générales et particulières de ce même article 5 paraissent faire peu de cas de l'article 20 alinéa 2 de notre Constitution quant au « respect de la personnalité et de la dignité humaine », à l'interdiction de « traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants » au regard du droit de l'enfant à naître.

D'une manière générale, on ne peut pas faire non plus l'économie d'une mise en perspective de ce texte avec l'article 9 de la Constitution : quelle signification peut bien avoir le maintien de l'attachement réaffirmé à notre religion catholique comme religion d'Etat si, par ailleurs, on propose des législations qui sont notoirement incompatibles avec des principes que cette religion a toujours qualifiés de « non négociables » ?

La foi catholique n'est pas seulement un corpus de traditions et de rites ;
elle est aussi vie, cohérence de vie, et elle est pour la vie ».

Source : Nice Matin

See: http://www.avortementivg.com/article-29683255.html

Archbishop Barsi's 2006 Statement Re Monaco's Aborton Vote

See: http://www.eglise-catholique.mc/quoideneuf/communiqueeveque.htm

COMMUNIQUÉ DE
DE MONSEIGNEUR L’ARCHEVÊQUE
DE MONACO
À PROPOS D'UNE PROPOSITION DE LOI

Une proposition de loi vient d'être déposée devant le Conseil National en vue d'une éventuelle légalisation de certains types d'avortements. Avant même de connaître l'issue de la procédure qui vient de s'ouvrir et des débats contradictoires auxquels elle donnera lieu, je tiens à rappeler quelques principes fondamentaux qui relèvent non pas d'une morale religieuse mais de la loi naturelle elle-même qui s'applique à toute société civilisée moderne :Les progrès de la science nous apprennent que la vie commence dès la conception. Ce que l'on appelle "interruption de grossesse" - quel qu'en soit le motif - reste donc un avortement, c'est-à-dire la suppression d'une vie.Un des fondements premiers des droits de l'homme est l'intégrité de sa personne à tous les stades de sa vie.La loi civile ne peut jamais faire l'économie de la loi morale. Ce n'est pas en légalisant "l'interruption de grossesse pour motif médical ou viol" que l'on aidera vraiment les femmes, les couples et les familles, mais plutôt en les accompagnant, dans nos institutions, par la mise en place de mesures de solidarité concrète.Instruit par l'expérience de tous les autres pays, je crains par ailleurs des excès. Je crains en effet que l'interruption de grossesse pour motif médical n'aboutisse, tôt ou tard, à la libéralisation totale de l'avortement (IVG).Je souhaite qu'avec le courage de la vérité, sans démagogie et dans le respect des convictions de chacun, nous cherchions ensemble à construire un pays modèle où la vie de son commencement à son terme naturel sera toujours respectée.

A Monaco, le 12 octobre 2006† Bernard BARSI
Archevêque de Monaco

Christian Telegraph on Monaco's Decision to Legalize Abortion

See Original Article Date 4/9/09 on the internet at:
http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue5454.html


Catholic Monaco Made Decision to Legalize Abortion

The Catholic nation of Monaco, one of the last holdouts against the tide of abortion legalization in the European continent, has approved a new law permitting abortion for "hard cases," including rape, fetal deformity, fetal illness, or danger to the life of the mother, reports Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, LifeSiteNews.com.

The law was passed unanimously by Monaco's National Council, its parliament, in a 26-0 vote, despite the fact that 90% of its population is formally Catholic. The legislation had been in process for five years.
Archbishop Pernard Barsi of Monaco reportedly blasted the measure as being "incompatible" with the constitution of Monaco, which recognizes the Catholic faith as the state religion.

"When they say that the text [of the law] only concerns extreme cases, they are not saying the truth," said Barsi. "There is a risk that all of the rest will follow and the worst is to be feared because they will not stop trying to conform Monaco to the lowest ethical standards."

Members of the council denounced Barsi for his criticisms, claiming they were made at the last minute. However, as LifeSiteNews has reported, Barsi has been denouncing the measure since at least 2006.

Monaco was one of the last three nations in Europe where abortion is illegal. The other two countries are Ireland and Malta.

**A report of Monaco's legalization of abortion was also reported on the "Catholic Family" website of the National Association of Catholic Families in the UK under "International News" at the URL cited below:
http://www.cfnews.org.uk/CF_News_1533.htm#26

Anti-Catholic Article on Monaco's Unconstitutional Liberalized Abortion Law

ARTICLE REPORTING THE LIBERALIZATION OF MONACO'S LAW ON ABORTION AND SUPPORTING THIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL DECISION PROMULGATED BY AN OFFICIAL CATHOLIC COUNTRY

**CENSORED: THE VIEWPOINTS CITED BELOW ARE CONTRARY TO OFFICIAL CATHOLIC DOCTRINE ON THE SANCTITY OF LIFE AND ARE NOT IN FIDELITY WITH THE OFFICIAL DOCTRINE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH--THE MONACO INTELLIGENCER IS A CATHOLIC BLOG LOYAL TO THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF ROME"

Abortion Law Liberalized in Catholic Monaco
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 11:33 — Wendy
By Anna Wilkowska-Landowska, RH Reality Check, Eastern Europe

Last month, after five years of advocacy, Monaco approved a new law, which legalizes medically necessary abortions. Monaco was one of the last three states in Europe where abortion was illegal. The other two countries are Ireland and Malta.
The law was passed unanimously by the National Council, Monaco's parliament, in a 26-0 vote. This is significant because 90 percent of Monaco's population is formally Catholic. As generally known, the Roman Catholic Church believes that life begins at conception and opposes abortion under all circumstances. However, the modern Catholic position states a medical procedure needed to save the life of the mother, but that may result in the death of the "pre-born child" as a secondary effect, is morally acceptable.

Until now, Monaco has had one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. Under Monaco's Criminal Code, there were no stated exceptions to a general prohibition of abortion. Nonetheless, under general criminal law principles of necessity, an abortion could be performed to save the life of a pregnant woman. Any person performing an illegal abortion was subject to one to five years imprisonment and a fine. A woman who induced her own abortion or consented to its being induced was subject to six months to three years imprisonment and a fine. Physicians, surgeons, midwives and pharmacists who performed abortions were liable to harsher penalties including suspension from their profession.

The process of adopting a new bill calling for increased abortion access took years of struggling against religious beliefs. Like many other Catholic Church representatives, Archbishop Pernard Barsi of Monaco said there are a few fundamental principles that come not from religious morality, but from the natural law itself, that applies to all modern civilized societies: Life begins at conception. "What we term ‘interruption of pregnancy,' no matter what the motive is, remains an abortion. One of the most fundamental human rights is the integrity of the person at all stages of life. Civil law must never abridge the moral law," he said.

The Catholic Church in Monaco continuously claimed that permitting deliberate abortion for medical reasons or rape would inevitably lead to abortion on demand, and sooner or later, to the total liberalization of abortion. Barsi was pointing to the progression of laws permitting abortion in countries with no restrictions on the procedure. Instead of focusing on termination of pregnancies, he suggested looking closer at the problems faced by women and families dealing with difficult pregnancies, and called for increased support in society for them. "It's not by legalizing the 'interruption of pregnancies for medical motives or rape' that we will help women, couples and families. We must in fact accompany women by putting in place concrete measures within our institutions to foster solidarity," he said.

The new law permits abortion for "hard cases" including rape, fetal deformity, fetal illness or danger to the life of the mother. Catholic authorities argue that new regulations on termination of pregnancy are "incompatible" with the constitution of Monaco, which recognizes the Catholic faith as the state religion. They fear, for example, that there will be further attempts to conform Monaco to what they consider lowest ethical standards.

Adoption of the new bill on abortion in Monaco should be regarded as an important step on the way to providing sufficient guarantees for women within the area of reproductive rights. The fact that currently there are only two states in Europe where abortion is illegal and therefore totally prohibited, is a genuine proof that societies can change mentality, despite religious constraints that very often constitute serious obstacles when discussing controversial matters, especially abortion. Monaco serves as a perfect example.

**Extracted from: http://www.choiceireland.org/content/abortion-law-liberalized-catholic-monaco