The Chirac Foundation

Jacques Chirac, the former president of France, has always been keen to build up a culture of Peace and harmony. During his entire political carrier, he never stopped to fight against the fatality of War, against indifference towards illness or handicap. He also struggled for the development of solidarity, for the equality of dignity of all men and people. He was one of the first to understand that the diversity of cultures was a blessing and that dialogue was necessary to manage a structure of sustainable development.

In his ambition lies the core basis of the Chirac Founding, and the essential of its message in favour of Peace. Peace which is the very first casualty of the dissoluteness of the planet: tomorrow, climatic refugees will amount to several millions. Peace, which is more and more compromised by the flaws of social solidarity that favour insurrections as it is today proved by "Hunger riots". Peace, which is threatened by the disappearance of singular cultures and the outburst of conflicts of identity.

The Chirac Founding is not specialized in one single ground, because those problems are global and can have several answers. In the context of the worldwide crisis that was entailed by an unsettled globalization and an international governance that needs be reinvented, Its means of intervention are multiple: Pleas, supports to already existing or new initiatives, and experimentations of project that could show us the way to go.

All of this to help and create the network of a world in which everyone needs to find its place thanks to humble gestures that ought to be specific, precise, persevering, carefully set and
handled well. We must not forget to be aware that we are in a situation of urgency, and that we act while we still can.

It is in that very spirit that this Founding is working on projects against deforestation in Africa. It will also organise, on June 9th 2008, international meetings about linguistic diversity. 70 to 90% of the 6000 languages spoken in the world may disappear during this century if nothing is done. The Chirac Founding decided to react with other organizations in favour of diversity because it doesn't resign to this impoverishment. Because their shall be no real sustainable development if we do not pay attention to mankind, to culture, and to diversity.

It is on this front of Peace - In Bosnia, on the Ivory Coast, in Morocco, in Iraq, in the UNESCO and the United Nations - that the former French President has build up strong relationships and started a discussion (that's still going on) with the men and women that are now on his side: they are part of a comity of honour that stands, in a way, for the perfect Areopagus of the contemporary Humanism, which is boosted by an unanimous will. The members of the founding are of an incomparable value: Kofi Annan, the former Secretary of the UN, Abdou Diouf, who is currently the head of the international Office of French speaking countries, Frederico Mayor, the former General Executive of the UNESCO, heads of states and governments - Fernando Henrique Cardoso for Brazil, Joaquin Chissano for Mozambique, Andres Pastrana for Colombia, Jean Chrétien for Canada, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall for Mauritania, Vaira Vike-Freiberga for Latvia, the unforgettable Lee Kuan-Yew for Singapore - Nobel Prizes - Rigoberta Menchu, Mohamed Yunus and Rajendra Pachaury - artists and famous personalities such as the writer Francois Cheng from the French Academy, the director of the Library of Alexandria, Ismail Serageldin, the former Polish Secretary of Foreign Policies, Bronislaw Geremek, the famous musician Youssou N'dour, The founder of the Roman Community of San Egidio, Andrea Riccardi, and Enrique Iglesias, the former head executive of the Bank for Inter American development. Not to mention those that already told us about their will to get committed to our common project.

The foundation had, in return, to offer an effective tool so that none of the resources mobilized were lost. It is now done: In every body of skills needed, the meaning and the nature of the issue, along with the promises made by the founding, enabled the latter to appeal to the best. The list of all of those who have been helping its functioning since the beginning and who are gathered in the Board of Directors proves that point.

This operational structure is obviously fit to connect and cooperate with others - whether it be French or foreign authorities, public or private organization, or even the labelization of initiatives from a third party - and to benefit from every available aid in the domain of its activity.

The Jacques Chirac Founding in favour of sustainable development and the dialogue of cultures.
Michel Camdessus, former head executive of the International Monetary Fund: President.
Jean-Pierre Lafon, diplomat, former General French Secretary of the "Quai d'Orsay": Vice-President.
Valérie Terranova, specialist of Japan, Adviser for the French Elysée since 1995: General Secretary
René Ricol, president of the International Federation of chartered accountants: Treasurer.
Bernard Vatier, president of the Bar: Legal adviser.