Santo Domingo – As French Ambassador Sonia Barbry prepares to wrap up her two-year diplomatic posting to the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean nation has bestowed one of its highest honors on her: the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella, Grand Cross with Silver Plaque.
The prestigious recognition was formally presented on behalf of Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó by Rubén Silié, Vice Minister of Multilateral Foreign Policy. The award was authorized through Decree No. 657-26, issued by Dominican President Luis Abinader, in acknowledgment of Barbry’s consistent diplomatic efforts and meaningful contributions to strengthening bilateral ties between the Dominican Republic and France.
In his remarks during the awarding ceremony, Silié commended Barbry’s unwavering dedication to advancing partnership between the two nations. He specifically highlighted her work expanding mutual understanding and creating new avenues for collaborative action across shared priority areas.
Accepting the honor, Barbry outlined the wide range of progress made in bilateral cooperation throughout her tenure. She pointed to tangible advancements in core sectors including economic development, transportation infrastructure, and expanding access to clean energy. Beyond strategic and economic collaboration, she emphasized the deepened people-to-people connections forged in cultural, educational, and scientific fields, noting growth in French-language instruction, expanded student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, and expanded cultural exchanges across film, dance, and music.
The ceremony marks a formal capstone to Barbry’s mission, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to continuing to deepen their productive diplomatic relationship into the future.