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French American friendship between France and the United States goes back more than 200 years, which makes France the oldest ally of the United States. There is no denying that this long dated friendship and alliance has gone through difficulties in the recent period. Nevertheless, the divergences about the war in Iraq must not overshadow the many common ties and interests that still prevail today, starting with the fight against terrorism. Against the background of the post 9/11 threats and uncertainties in the world, Mr. Sibiude will address the different issues related to the French American alliance.

On November 28, 2001 Mr. Sibiude took up his current post of Consul General of France in Los Angeles, with jurisdiction over Southern California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Southern Nevada. In 1971, Mr. Sibiude was first assigned to the French Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. From 1974 to 1978, he served at the French Permanent Representation to the United Nations in New York and from 1978 to 1981 at the French Embassy in Amman, Jordan. He then returned to France, where he joined the Staff of the French Minister of Defense as an Aide in charge of diplomatic affairs. From 1986 to 1988, he served as Under-Secretary for Iraq, Iran and the Gulf area affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He then left France for a sabbatical year in the United States as a fellow of the Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. In 1988 he was appointed Deputy Secretary for North Africa and the Middle East. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Sibiude served as Ambassador of France in the Comoros Islands before being based in Paris again as Ambassador at large for the Middle East peace process. From 1995 to 1999, he held the position of Deputy Ambassador at the French Embassy in Bonn and Berlin, Germany, and then rejoined the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris as a Special Advisor to the Secretary General. Mr. Jean-Luc Sibiude is a graduate of the University of Montpellier and holds a degree from the Institut d‹Etudes Politiques de Paris and the Ecole Nationale des Langues Orientales (arabic language).