The economy was the focus: as well as meeting President Jacques Chirac Premier Lionel Jospin and over an unprecedented lunch Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine Wade sought to foster a better investment climate by meeting the Président Directeur Général of major companies - Air France Artémis Bouygues Electricité de France Lyonnaise des Eaux Société Générale Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer TotalFina and Vivendi...
However President Jacques Chirac's Africa advisor Michel Dupuch seems unconvinced that Patassé will start the conciliatory talks with his political rivals which the Elysée Palace believes are necessary for stability...
Vol 41 No 11 |
- SIERRA LEONE
Not only is France the Western power best disposed towards Liberia's President Charles Taylor (he was treated to a lavish state visit to Paris two years ago) but French President Jacques Chirac is an enthusiastic ally of Burkinabè President Blaise Compaoré...
President Jacques Chirac is more likely to help: he is godfather to Diouf's youngest daughter and we hear of financial cooperation between Chirac's Gaullist Rassemblement pour la République and Diouf's PS...
He tried everything including a personal call to President Jacques Chirac to stifle the inquiry by investigating magistrate Eva Joly into Elf-Aquitaine's unorthodox financing operations...
French President Jacques Chirac also apparently offered his services during a 28 October one-day 'private' visit for lunch with Mohammed...
Vol 40 No 20 |
- CÔTE D'IVOIRE
Picking teamsIn late September Bédié went to France for a tête-à-tête with President Jacques Chirac and his advisor (and former Abidjan Ambassador) Michel Dupuch...
Vol 40 No 20 |
- BURKINA FASO
Nonetheless he still has French President Jacques Chirac's backing though some in France's Foreign Ministry aren't so keen seeing him as a Francophone version of Uganda's Yoweri Museveni...
Only France whose President Jacques Chirac remains convivial towards him is prepared to give the Brazzaville strongman a regular audience...
That alone explains the appearance of US President Bill Clinton French President Jacques Chirac Spain's King Juan Carlos Israeli Premier Ehud Barak Britain's Prince Charles at Hassan's funeral in Rabat on 25 July...