Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Chirac 'deserves Nobel Peace Prize'
French President Jacques Chirac - a Nobel Peace Prize nominee - deserves to win the award if he succeeds in averting war against Iraq, his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika has declared.
In an interview with French radio, Mr Bouteflika said humanity was "tired of war" and that all efforts should be made to find a peaceful solution - as Mr Chirac proposes.
He spoke on the final of day of the French president's landmark trip to Algeria, the first official state visit by a French leader since the country's independence in 1962.
Thousands of Algerians are reported to have packed the streets of the city of Oran on Tuesday to welcome Mr Chirac, who was to fly home later in the day.
It is widely believed that the French leader's opposition to a US-led campaign has been a major factor in the rapturous reception he has received throughout his three day visit.
Symbolic trip
President Chirac has been accompanied by a delegation of leading business people, including the heads of corporate giants TotalFinaElf, Alstom and Airbus, as well as French cultural figures.
At the start of his trip, France and Algeria signed a declaration on increased co-operation.
The treaty calls for a strong and unique partnership between the countries, with annual meetings between their heads of state, and increased economic and cultural ties.
However, the main impact of the visit has been symbolic.
In a gesture of friendship, President Chirac presented his Algerian counterpart with the silver seal of the last ruler of Algiers, taken by French forces in 1830.
The two countries have endured difficult relations since Algeria forced its French rulers out, ending more than a century of control by Paris.
In an act underlying the two countries' reconciliation, President Chirac laid a wreath for Algerians who died fighting for independence from France.
On Monday, he received a standing ovation from parliament when he told MPs that the past must not be forgotten. "We must not forget it or renounce it," he said.
He is also thought to have discussed Algeria's home-grown Islamic radical movement, which has been a source of militant activities in Europe and North America.
Since 1992, Islamic militants have been trying to topple the Algerian Government and set up an Islamic state.
They have massacred soldiers and civilians, while government forces have also been accused of widespread human rights abuses. About 120,000 people have died in the conflict.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2818477.stm
He spoke on the final of day of the French president's landmark trip to Algeria, the first official state visit by a French leader since the country's independence in 1962.
Thousands of Algerians are reported to have packed the streets of the city of Oran on Tuesday to welcome Mr Chirac, who was to fly home later in the day.
It is widely believed that the French leader's opposition to a US-led campaign has been a major factor in the rapturous reception he has received throughout his three day visit.
Symbolic trip
President Chirac has been accompanied by a delegation of leading business people, including the heads of corporate giants TotalFinaElf, Alstom and Airbus, as well as French cultural figures.
At the start of his trip, France and Algeria signed a declaration on increased co-operation.
The treaty calls for a strong and unique partnership between the countries, with annual meetings between their heads of state, and increased economic and cultural ties.
However, the main impact of the visit has been symbolic.
In a gesture of friendship, President Chirac presented his Algerian counterpart with the silver seal of the last ruler of Algiers, taken by French forces in 1830.
The two countries have endured difficult relations since Algeria forced its French rulers out, ending more than a century of control by Paris.
In an act underlying the two countries' reconciliation, President Chirac laid a wreath for Algerians who died fighting for independence from France.
On Monday, he received a standing ovation from parliament when he told MPs that the past must not be forgotten. "We must not forget it or renounce it," he said.
He is also thought to have discussed Algeria's home-grown Islamic radical movement, which has been a source of militant activities in Europe and North America.
Since 1992, Islamic militants have been trying to topple the Algerian Government and set up an Islamic state.
They have massacred soldiers and civilians, while government forces have also been accused of widespread human rights abuses. About 120,000 people have died in the conflict.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2818477.stm
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$240.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network
From Bakesrfield California there was an article,
PARIS - More tha 7000 Algerians are missing, believed taken by security forces during the 1990s, Human Rights Watch said wednesday (2-27-03) in a report. Only wartime Bosnia had more disappearances in the past decade. The missing were all ages, from all social classes, the group said.
France is no more different than other capitalist and repressive countries in the world. USA and France want Iraq's oil. France already invested a lot of capital, USA wants oil for free.