PACIFIC: France increasing aid to region

FRANCE INCREASING AID TO REGION

SUVA, Fiji (Oceania Flash, July 28) - French President Jacques Chirac 
announced at the France-Oceania meeting France’s intention to double the 
Pacific Fund as soon as next year.

Addressing a gathering of most Pacific islands heads of State, governments 
and regional organizations, Chirac said France was willing to provide more 
help to the Pacific in the fields of development, science, health, and 
culture.

Some of this aid is channeled into this Pacific Fund, based in Paris and 
currently worth about 2.5 million US dollars for this year.

Chirac also said the Fund would now be managed on a roving basis, by New 
Caledonian and French Polynesian "executives."

"France, obviously, wishes to act within the framework of a regional 
strategy. I can assure it will continue to fully support, politically and 
financially, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Secretariat of the Pacific 
Community", he said.

Earlier this month, Australia and France jointly announced they had allocated 
over a million US dollars each to assist in the regional fight against 
HIV/AIDS. The aid would be channeled through the Nouméa-based SPC.

Another bilateral aid project focusing on public health will be announced 
with New Zealand shortly, Chirac said.

Also on regional matters, Chirac said he wished French Polynesia would 
acquire observer status within the Forum.

"New Caledonia is already an observer to the Forum. We wish French Polynesia 
could access to the same status", he said, saying it was France's wish to 
engage into an "exemplary partnership, in economic, commercial and cultural 
cooperation, with Pacific island States."

Monday's talks focused on regional cooperation, sustainable development, as 
well as regional security and good governance in the Pacific islands.

July 30, 2003

Oceania Flash: E-mail/Courriel: padec@iname.com

Copyright © 2003 Oceania Flash. All Rights Reserved