H.E. Mr Bertrand Besancenot presented his credentials to the President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun, on Tuesday March 5, 2019 taking office as ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Lebanon, succeeding to H.E. Mr Charles- Henry of Aragon.
Former student of “College Notre Dame de Jamhour”, Mr. Besancenot knows Lebanon well. His many diplomas (winner of the general competition, master in economics and law, doctorate in political science) and his command of the Arabic language led him to hold senior positions in the Middle East, including that of ambassador of France to Qatar (from 1998 to 2002) and to Saudi Arabia (from 2007 to 2016). He was also appointed diplomatic adviser to the French government, special envoy of President Macron for Gulf Affairs, from 2017 to 2019. The services he rendered within these various positions were hailed by the Church and earned him the gratitude of the Holy Father.
Mr. Besancenot is also an officer of the Legion of Honor and the National Order of Merit, Grand Officer of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great for distinguished services to the Holy See, Grand Officer of Merit of the State of Qatar and Commander of the first class of the Order of King Abdel Aziz al-Saud.
