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Politics : Foreign Policy Discussion Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lorne who wrote (4587)	2/23/2003 11:50:20 AM
From: lorne	Respond to of 15987

Mugabe not offered French kiss By Adam Sage, The Times 22feb03 FRENCH President Jacques Chirac greeted President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe with the briefest of handshakes as he welcomed heads of state to the Franco-African summit yesterday. As Mr Chirac opened the two-day summit, he welcomed most of the 45 African leaders with a kiss on each cheek and an embrace. But at the arrival of Mr Mugabe, whose controversial visit to Paris has threatened to undermine the twenty-second annual summit, Mr Chirac seemed to freeze. He kept his left hand behind his back, extended his right hand for a peremptory greeting and then pointed the Zimbabwean President into conference hall. Mr Chirac's attitude hinted at embarrassment over the dispute that came after the decision to invite Mr Mugabe despite a European Union travel ban on the Zimbabwean leadership. With the French police arresting anti-Mugabe protesters while the authorities pay for the Zimbabwean delegation to stay in a luxury hotel in Paris, the affair is overshadowing Mr Chirac's attempt to use the summit to forge "a new partnership" with Africa. "This will be marked out as the grubbiest handshake of the year," Alan Duncan, the British shadow foreign secretary, said. "Jacques Chirac should think how much blood is on the hand he just shook." The Zimbabwean ruler attended a state dinner at the Elysee Palace yesterday following which he and Mr Chirac held one-on-one talks. Mr Chirac's spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna, said the French President informed Mr Mugabe of "the concern in Europe and the world" over the situation in Zimbabwe, which is in economic ruins and facing widespread hunger. The French press has dined out on the controversy of Mr Mugabe and his cohort staying in luxurious surroundings, dining on food prepared by world famous chef Alain Ducasse while his people at home starve. "Robert Mugabe's presence is an insult to the victims of his arbitrary regime," French newspaper Le Monde said. Britain's tabloid press also pulled no punches in slamming Mugabe's visit, with The Sun branding the French President as "le Worm" under the headline "Slimy Chirac rolls out red carpet for tyrant Mugabe". Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwean opposition leader, who faces the death sentence at a trial for treason in Harare, said Zimbabweans would remember that France had betrayed them when they were in need. Paris police detained the Australian gay and human rights activist Peter Tatchell, on Thursday. "We were prepared to do anything peaceful that we could to shame and embarrass," he said after his release. "It feels like a police state here. The right to protest has effectively been suspended." French authorities appeared to be on the defensive as they sought to justify the invitation to Mr Mugabe, who turned 79 yesterday. "All the African countries are traditionally invited to these summits. That is why they are useful," Ms Colonna said. themercury.news.com.au