The Mediterranean Institute, University of Malta and the Embassy of France in Malta are pleased to announce 'Secular Diplomacy and Religion: the French experience', a Public Lecture by Mr Jean-Christophe Peaucelle, Adviser on Religious Affairs at the central administration of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The public lecture will take place on Thursday 24 October at 17:30 at Meeting Room 1 Level 0, University of Malta Valletta Campus, .
Jean-Christophe Peaucelle joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987. He was appointed Head of Mission to the Director of French Citizens abroad and Foreigners in France, and participated in negotiations towards the Schengen Agreement. From 1990 to 1992, he was assigned to the Department of North Africa and the Middle East in charge of Israel and Palestine. From 1992 to 1996, he was Deputy Consul General in Jerusalem. In 1996, he was appointed Deputy Head of Mission in Tehran, before returning in 2000 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served as Deputy Director of Communications Strategy and Evaluation at the Directorate General of International Cooperation and of Development.
From 2003 to 2007, Mr Peaucelle served as Consul General in Istanbul. In 2007 he returned to Paris and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Deputy Director of Economic and Financial Affairs, before being assigned to the Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Sustainable Development as Head of European Affairs (responsible for the French Presidency of the European Union in 2008) followed by the role of Diplomatic Counsellor to the Minister.
In 2009, Mr Peaucelle was named Deputy Director for North Africa and the Middle East at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position he held until his nomination as Ambassador to Qatar in September 2011. Since September 2014, he has served as Adviser on Religious Affairs at the central administration of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The Public Lecture is free and open to the general public. Students are particularly encouraged to attend. A Q&A Session will take place following the Public Lecture. Attendees are cordially invited to a drinks reception after the event. For reservations or further information, kindly get in touch with event convenor Dr Norbert Bugeja at norbert.bugeja@um.edu.mt.
