Anonymous
23rd February 2003, 21:13
Mugabe's praise discredits Chirac
From Adam Sage in Paris
ROBERT MUGABE fuelled controversy over his invitation to the Franco-African summit in Paris yesterday when he heaped praise on President Chirac for the tremendous hospitality he had received.
His words appeared to discredit M Chiracs claims to have given the Zimbabwean President a dressing-down over his human rights record at a private meeting on Thursday night. They added to speculation that M Chiracs real aim in issuing the invitation had been to woo Zimbabwes President as part of his attempt to extend French influence into Anglophone Africa. Mr Mugabe, who was put up with his wife and entourage in a luxurious Paris hotel at the French Governments expense, said: We felt at home here.
He told Radio France Internationale in an interview shortly before flying back to Harare: We have received tremendous hospitality, and we are leaving with a very good impression of France. His remarks will be an embarrassment to M Chirac, who said he had invited Mr Mugabe to Paris despite a European Union travel ban so that he could tell the Zimbabwean President face to face of his concerns.
more (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-586480,00.html)
(Edited by Dark Capitalist at 2:14 am on Feb. 24, 2003)
From Adam Sage in Paris
ROBERT MUGABE fuelled controversy over his invitation to the Franco-African summit in Paris yesterday when he heaped praise on President Chirac for the tremendous hospitality he had received.
His words appeared to discredit M Chiracs claims to have given the Zimbabwean President a dressing-down over his human rights record at a private meeting on Thursday night. They added to speculation that M Chiracs real aim in issuing the invitation had been to woo Zimbabwes President as part of his attempt to extend French influence into Anglophone Africa. Mr Mugabe, who was put up with his wife and entourage in a luxurious Paris hotel at the French Governments expense, said: We felt at home here.
He told Radio France Internationale in an interview shortly before flying back to Harare: We have received tremendous hospitality, and we are leaving with a very good impression of France. His remarks will be an embarrassment to M Chirac, who said he had invited Mr Mugabe to Paris despite a European Union travel ban so that he could tell the Zimbabwean President face to face of his concerns.
more (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-586480,00.html)
(Edited by Dark Capitalist at 2:14 am on Feb. 24, 2003)