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Second anniversary for Monaco's sovereign
This week marks the second anniversary of Prince Albert II's investiture as he came to power in the world's second smallest state.

On July 12, 2005, the second child and only son of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III (who had passed away in April earlier that year) stood before his people to set the tone of his leadership. As the then 47-year-old noted in his address, it was a moment he had anticipated and prepared for all of his life.

To recognise this second anniversary, Monaco Revue is pleased to highlight some of the profound statements uttered and noble objectives espoused by the new ruler in his investiture speech.

" 'I have a dream…' You remember no doubt this phrase of the Nobel Peace Prize [winner] Martin Luther King who started his founding speech on racial equality in this way," Prince Albert said. "I too have a dream. For a long time, I have dreamt of a country that would function as a model in all aspects. A country generating models: a model of life; a model of development, a model of well being, a model of peace."

Here are more nuggets from that historic speech.



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Modernity is the capacity to understand one's era, to identify the main themes which travel through such time and to come into line with its underlying trends.

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The key to the development of a country is it capacity, with its strengths and weaknesses, to look to the future and imagine all the actions necessary to achieve a set goal.

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In order for us to develop, we should adopt the famous adage of the no less famous Greek philosopher Socrates: "Know yourself".

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We believe in both material progress but also in spiritual progress.

We are supporters of free enterprise in the economic sector, a system which creates wealth.

We also believe in the virtues of solidarity towards those who do not have the necessary learning, know-how or personal ability needed to take the risks, to gain the autonomy and assume the responsibility which modern life implies.

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It is my firm intention to contribute towards making Monaco one of the world poles in financial engineering, by adding management skills to the already renowned banking skills. Monaco must develop state of the art know-how in this domain to render our private equity pole capable of operating efficiently on all markets. Our talents in this domain exist but are still insufficient in number.

We must encourage exceptional education and develop existing networks so that Monaco becomes one of the world leaders on the financial markets.

I intend however that ethics remain the backdrop for all the actions of the Monegasque authorities. Ethics are not divisible. Money and virtue must be combined permanently. The importance of Monaco's financial market will require extreme vigilance to avoid the development of the type of financial activities which are not welcome in our country.

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This collective will to preserve the environment must be one of the contributions of our country to the international community.... Monaco must be a model country that respects nature.

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Monegasques are people of quality. These qualities will be developed even further as I will put the accent on knowledge, know-how, imagination and the extraordinary power of thought.

I will do what is necessary, in particular by organizing symposiums and think tank seminars which will have a great impact. They will bring to us not only additional intellectual resources to those we already possess but they will also make our country a real thought forum on the major subjects and preoccupations of the contemporary world.

I will encourage researchers, universities, entrepreneurs and , why not, American, Asian and European investors to set up business in our country. In Monaco they will benefit from optimal conditions for the development of their activities. The wealth thus created will be shared by all. These newcomers know that the economic environment of Monaco is propitious to success and that all opportunities are open.
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A country's future is its youth. I would like to mobilize the youth of Monaco by giving them the means to train to the highest levels, to have access to highly skilled jobs and by providing sources of personal enrichment through culture and sport.

But I also ask our youth to show their willingness to work, to surpass themselves, to have ambition, to forge their experience abroad in order to better contribute to the interests of our country when the time comes.

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I am therefore convinced that Monaco in its own way can become a major power: a combination of a vision of the world turned towards progress and well being and the implementation of activities for the protection of the environment, for the struggle for peace, the respect of justice, for sustainable development, for the protection of the underprivileged, and for the implementation of actions for a fairer and more harmonious world.

Our power must, before all things, be an ethical power - a model of power. That of a country in which the wealth created is above all the fruit of labour and innovation; a country where a part of this wealth contributes to a better world : four percent of our state budget is profitable to humanitarian and social projects overseas, specially in Africa.

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No great thing can be accomplished without the implication of all. For this reason, I count on each of you. I call upon the sense of collective responsibility of all Monegasques. Remember that in a constitutional state, each right has a corresponding duty. Monegasques benefit from numerous privileges. They must therefore through their personal conduct, each day merit their advantages which are almost unique in the world.



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