Bruno Pelat, a French diplomat, has passed away at the age of 93

Former French ambassador to Poland and NATO, Pelat played a key role in shaping France's foreign policy

Pelat's legacy includes his work on the Treaty of Rome and the development of the European Union

Bruno Pelat, a prominent French diplomat who held the posts of ambassador to Poland and NATO and played a significant role in shaping France's foreign policy during the second half of the 20th century, passed away on January 22, 2023, at the age of 93.

Pelat's diplomatic career spanned over four decades, during which time he witnessed and participated in some of the most significant events in European history, including the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, which established the European Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union.

As ambassador to Poland from 1978 to 1981, Pelat played a key role in strengthening relations between France and Poland, and in supporting the Solidarity movement, a nonviolent resistance movement that played a major role in the collapse of communism in Poland.

Pelat's tenure as ambassador to NATO from 1982 to 1985 coincided with the height of the Cold War, and he was instrumental in helping to maintain stability in Europe during a period of heightened tensions between the West and the Soviet Union.

After retiring from the diplomatic service, Pelat continued to be active in public life, serving as a member of the French Senate and as president of the France-Poland Friendship Association.

Pelat's legacy includes his work on the Treaty of Rome, which helped to lay the foundation for the European Union, and his role in strengthening relations between France and Poland.

He was a respected and influential figure in French foreign policy, and his death is a loss to France and to the international community.

Bruno Pelat