Translate the following English sentence to French:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I apologise for the fact that we are starting a few minutes late. However, there has been an important trialogue meeting, which the representative of the Council, Minister Moscovici, had to attend, and because he was held up, we have waited for him."
Mesdames et Messieurs, je sollicite vos excuses et votre compréhension pour ces quelques minutes de retard mais un important trilogue vient d'avoir lieu qui requérait la présence du représentant du Conseil, M. le ministre Moscovici.