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| North Africa |
| Chirac enjoys hero’s welcome in Algiers |
| 2003-03-03 |
| News that makes you go hmmmmmm........ France and Algeria on Sunday signed a declaration designed to improving their troubled ties, on the first day of a historic visit by President Jacques Chirac to the former French colony. Hundreds of thousands of cheering Algerians took to the streets of the capital Sunday to welcome Chirac, with crowds lining the 15-kilometre (10-mile) route from the airport to Algiers city centre, jamming the footpaths and hanging from balconies, trees and lamp posts to wave and clap as Chirac's motorcade passed. The three-day trip - the highest-ranking French visit since Algeria gained independence 41 years ago - began with the signing of a declaration of friendship intended to seal a new era of cooperation between the two countries... The declaration pledges efforts to improve travel conditions for citizens of the two countries and stresses that the two million Algerians living in France have a "rightful place in French society". A working group will try to resolve the tricky questions of visas for more Algerians to enter France and the return of Algerians who supported France in the colonial war. As Chirac walked through central Algiers surrounded by bodyguards, youths among the 1.5 million Algerians who turned out to greet him called out: "Visas! Visas!" Police struggled to keep back youths demonstrating against the threat of a US-led war on Iraq, which France also opposes. "The army and the people are with Saddam" and "No war on Iraq", they chanted. During dinner with Bouteflika the French president reiterated his opposition to the use of force to disarm Iraq of its alleged weapons of mass destruction. "The use of force can only be used as a last resort. There is an alternative to war," said Chirac. He also said it was "essential" for Baghdad to "cooperate fully and actively with the inspectors", who are due to submit their next crucial report to the UN Security Council on Friday. Chirac was accompanied on the visit by his wife Bernadette and a large delegation of ministers, business leaders and artists. He was due later in his visit to address the Algerian parliament. expatica.com provides very interesting European news and advice in English for expatriate Americans living in France, Germany, Holland, and Belgium |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #3 I am glad that the Algerians have such a love for the |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-03-03 20:39:05 |
| #2 "The army and the people are with Saddam"... they chanted. Okay Algeria, we'll keep that in mind! |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-03-03 20:08:01 |
| #1 "There is an alternative to war" Yeah, it's called 'France' (Latin for "appease the dictator"). |
| Posted by: RW 2003-03-03 18:54:03 |