16916: Blanchet: Fw: Daily Press Briefing (October 7, 2003) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>
>              the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
>
>                        (Paris, October 7, 2003)
>      [Please note that only the original French text issued by the
>      French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.
>                   ( http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr )]
>
>
> Today : HAITI, MIDDLE EAST, TIBET/FRANCE, LAOS, RWANDA, BURUNDI, DRC,
> CHECHNYA, IRAQ, NORTH KOREA
>
>
> HAITI
> =====
>
> Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin today installed a task-force,
> chaired by Régis Debray, on Franco-Haitian relations.  In setting up an
> independent committee, the French authorities wanted to bring together
> people from various walks of life to explore ideas on Haiti. It will
> submit its report to the minister in January at the end of its work which
> will be carried out in both France and Haiti.
>
> The task-force will submit proposals that will contribute to the State's
> discussions and capacities to act and eventual action of all the French
> partners who might be able to help Haiti on the path to good governance
> and democracy.
>
> Q - Can you explain Haiti's demand to be reimbursed such a colossal
> amount, about $23 billion it believes France owes it for the colonial
> period?
>
> I would like to  stress that the question of restitution is not part of
> the mission entrusted to the task-force on Franco-Haitian relations.
>
> As for the substance, I refer you to President Chirac's comments in Evian
> on June 2, on the sidelines of the G8:  "As you know, I have the greatest
> friendship for Haiti and its people. We also have substantial cooperation
> and provide Haiti with significant aid.  And before raising disputes of
> that nature, I cannot advise the Haitian authorities strongly enough to be
> very careful, I would say, as to the nature of their actions and their
> regime."
>
> (...)
>