http://www.ambafrance-us.org http://www.france.diplomatie.fr VOL. 04.02 FEBRUARY 25, 2004 A triweekly review of French news and trends Online at: www.ambafrance-us.org/publi/nff Villepin Outlines Middle East Plan INSIDE According to the French Foreign Minister, "We Need a Real Partnership with the Middle East." 2 L’événement European Rapid- RENCH FOREIGN MINISTER Dominique de Villepin outlined notably through our dialogue with the Arab League. Response Force France's plan for the Middle East region in an interview with Le Figaro And finally with our major partners, particularly with- 3 France-Amérique newspaper on February 19. Insisting on "the importance of starting in the framework of the G8." Villepin stressed in par- Congressional French with the needs and expectations of the countries in the Middle East, ticular that the French ideas complement the "Greater Caucus Visits France Fand of not trying to dictate solutions," Villepin proposed to involve these coun- Middle East" initiative recently proposed by the Bush tries up front, in a spirit of genuine partnership. He also advocated a compre- administration. "We want to work with our American 4 Profil hensive approach that would take into account all the key issues –political, eco- friends to maximize the complementary nature of our A Long Tradition of nomic, social, cultural, educational- as well as the security aspects. "Otherwise, approaches," declared Villepin. l l Tapestry-Making our initiative might be perceived as being motivated solely by our security interests rather than by our wish to see the region develop," Villepin warned. 5 Économie / Science He finally reiterated that "if we want to be credible, we cannot ignore the Israeli- E.U. Space Program Palestinian conflict." 6 Société The French Foreign Minister named three areas in which such large-scale Fighting homelessness cooperation on the Middle East could occur: "political dialogue first of all, in order to move forward with democracy, good governance and human rights; 7 Culture next, economic and social development, to introduce necessary structural “Passports for France” & reforms; and, finally, support for efforts by civil society to encourage a cultural “Picnics for Fraternity” dialogue." He added, "This cooperation could lead to a general declaration 8 Chez nous enunciating the principles of a true 'partnership for peace and progress.' It French Rococo would define the major steps that must be taken in the region, steps that range from the non-recourse to force, for example, to the strengthening of educa- Moshé Katsav, President of the state of tional systems." Israël, recently paid a state visit to France at The French Foreign Minister noted that "Europe is a natural partner of the the invitation of President Jacques Chirac. region" since it has long built deep ties with the countries of the Middle East. President Katsav (right) met with French Asked about the way in which concrete results could be achieved, Villepin said Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin on AMBASSADE DE FRANCE that France wants to quickly get moving with large-scale cooperation on the February 16 in Paris. This state visit by the AUX ETATS-UNIS Middle East "with our European partners, to begin with: France wants this president of Israel to France is the second topic to be placed on the agenda of upcoming European meetings, starting in history, after Haïm Herzog's in 1988. with the European Council in March. Then with the countries of the region, Twenty Year Old TV5 Sets its Sights Ever Higher The participating nations of TV5 met in Québec on February 13 to adopt the network's 2004 budget. V5, THE FRANCOPHONE international net- enues, which would make the channel less reliant on work, the second largest in the world after MTV government aid. During the conference, the participat- T(but ahead of both CNN and BBC International), is ing ministers expressed their profound attachment to celebrating its 20th birthday this year. TV5 boasts an audi- the development and evolution of the network in the ence of over 147 million homes and centers its program- years to come. ming around international news. A government-supported Along those lines, the ministerial conference salut- network that prides itself on its rich reflection of the cul- ed the country of Senegal for its proposal to solicit a tural diversity of the French-speaking world, TV5 is seek- more active role for TV5 in African nations. This fol- ing to broaden its appeal with more movies, sports and lows measures taken by TV5 to take part in the initia- documentaries. tives launched by the United Nations in January 2004 The 28th annual conference provided an opportunity The “Journal de l’Eco” on TV5 and to play a more active role in the dissemination of for all the contributing parties to salute the success of the (Courtesy:TV5 / Les Echos) material that would increase public knowledge and global network, which increased its world-wide distribu- understanding of HIV and AIDS. tion by 30 percent just three years ago. It has now become a fundamental tool Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations and Serge Adda, pres- for the encouragement of multilateral communication. ident of TV5, signed an accord reading in part, "Through its extensive reach, Despite budgetary constraints, the participating countries, including media can be used as a powerful force for educating and informing the public Canada, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, and about the HIV /AIDS epidemic. We therefore resolve, through our companies, Senegal, reached an agreement to increase their financial contribution by 2.5 to expand public knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS." percent for 2004. TV5 has also promised to increase its commercial rev- For more information, please visit www.tv5.org. l l 1 En bref current events L’ÉVÉNEMENT ISRAEL, FRANCE REINFORCE FRIENDSHIP Israeli President Moshe Katzav arrived Rapid Response Force Unveiled in France, home to the world’s third NEW AIRCRAFT France, U.K. and Germany propose a European “force de frappe” largest Jewish community, on February CARRIER TO BE 16 for a four-day state visit. Warmly NON-NUCLEAR RANCE, Great Britain, Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac stated that received by President Jacques Chirac, President Jacques and Germany presented it was time the E.U. "pulled its weight" and took a more the two heads of state called for clos- Chirac announced er Franco-Israeli relations. Since 2002, February 13 that their joint project for a active role in speedy military interventions. Officials cited the two nations have launched a vari- France's new aircraft rapid response force to the successful 2003 French-led intervention in Bunia, ety of joint projects in the fields of sci- carrier will be conven- Fthe European Union on February Congo, as an example of the type of missions the new force ence, commerce, education and cul- tionally powered, thus 10. The well-equipped, well- could conduct. ture. France has also intensified its rejecting the option of trained force would consist of fight against anti-Semitism, and the building a sister ship of combat units that could quickly FRENCH OFFICERS NAMED country already has fewer anti-Semitic TO 2 KEY NATO POSITIONS the nuclear-powered be deployed to crisis locations incidents, in proportion to its popula- Charles-de-Gaulle. threatening European lives or NATO recently accorded two French officers key com- tion, than the U.S., the U.K., or other "This choice responds mand positions. A French admiral will join the Supreme interests. Such a measure grew European countries. perfectly to future Command in charge of the transatlantic alliance's trans- out of an initial proposal made by operational require- formation, and a French general will head part of FRANCE AND BRAZIL ments and offers the France and Great Britain during NATO's Response Force (NRF). This reinforces France's PROPOSE LULA FUND best perspectives for their November 2003 Summit. At strong ties with NATO and in particular with the NRF, a On January 30, France and Brazil cooperation with the that time, the proposal was geared quarter of whose 8,000 men are from France. The NRF, reintroduced the idea of international United Kingdom," said toward operations in Africa. launched by the U.S., is equipped to deal with new taxes on arms sales and financial Chirac. Indeed, the Currently, the concept is evolving, security threats, particularly terrorism. transactions in order to provide fund- U.K. has already asked but the aim remains the same: ing to combat hunger and poverty French defense com- protection of regional interests. Officials emphasized that the European force would work around the world. Presidents Jacques pany Thales to design Those in favor of such an under the auspices of the U.N. and alongside NATO. It would Chirac of France and Luis Inacio Lula two conventionally alliance state that there is a need be a step toward the goal, adopted in 1999, of creating a da Silva of Brazil set up a group of powered aircraft carri- for the development of an entity, 60,000-strong E.U. rapid reaction force. The new force would several experts to find new sources of ers, which opens up funding to fight poverty. The initiative many possible avenues in addition to NATO, that has be open to all E.U. states, with the hopes that each major coun- was backed by U.N. Secretary for cooperation and complete understanding of try would contribute units of 1,500 troops ready to be General Kofi Annan and Chilean cost savings. The new European matters, and that could deployed within 15 days, making for a total complement of President Ricardo Lagos. carrier is slated to quickly step into crisis situations.