Special Gift, Red Carpet Honours for First Couple

Amid tight security, President Paul Biya and First Lady, Chantal Biya, were heartily received at La Francophonie summit in Switzerland.

President Paul Biya and First Lady, Chantal Biya’s arrival at Montreux, Switzerland for the 13th Francophonie summit was acclaimed by the government of Switzerland through the offering of a special official gift to the Head of State. There might not have been a better way for the government of Switzerland to appreciate the presence of President Paul Biya and First Lady, Chantal Biya. To honour the attendance of Cameroon’s First Couple, their arrival at Le Montreux Palace Hotel which overlooks the Swiss Alps, located along the shores of the elegant Lake Geneva (Lake Leman) was marked by a solemn ceremony at the hotel lobby organised by the Swiss government. Few minutes after the presidential couple alighted in front of the hotel, the Assistant Organising Commissioner for the 13th Francophonie Summit, Jacques Lauer, handed a hublot wristwatch (luxurious watch of high standard) to President Paul Biya, as a sign of their appreciation for his participation at the summit. The Swiss government reserved the same appreciative welcome to all Heads of State who marked present at the Francophonie Summit.

Despite the cold and drizzling weather, President Paul Biya and Madam just like other First Couples attending the summit respected the 100 metres walk over a red carpet from Le Montreux Palace Hotel to the Montreux Congress Hall for the solemn ceremony marking the start of the 13th Francophonie Summit. Along their way to the Congress Hall, Cameroon’s First Couple were greeted by Switzerland school pupils who waved flags of member countries of La Francophonie. On arrival at the Montreux Congress Hall, the Presidential couple were welcomed by the President of Switzerland, Doris Leuthard, the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Abdou Diouf and his wife, Elisabeth Diouf. A group photo with each First Couple ushered the start of the summit which took place in the midst of tight security as the Swiss government mobilised it army, air force and navy to provide safety measures for the over 30 Heads of State and government as well as Delegation Heads taking part in the summit of French-speaking countries.

The palm-clad town of Montreux which is favoured for luxury retirement homes and known worldwide for its jazz festival, was locked down and clad in barriers amid maximum security. Throughout the summit, the town was teeming with the distinctive grey green uniformed Swiss soldiers and the array of military hardware on the ground, in the air and on the lake. The air space around the lakeside city of Montreux was closed and six of Switzerland's 11 maritime patrol boats were in operation on the lake. An 11-kilometre air exclusion zone was in force in the skies above Montreux, backed by patrolling aircraft and ground-to-air defence units, all in close co-operation with the neighbouring French air force. Movement around the town of Montreux was greatly restricted as each area had its laissez-passer badge, be it along the road, on the lawn around the Congress hall, in a hotel lobby or around the lakeside. All this, was to guarantee the safety of participants and the smooth proceedings at the International Organisation of La Francophonie summit.

Brenda YUFEH