Posted on 11/20/2003 1:00:30 PM PST by presidio9
Visiting French State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Renaud Muselier wants New Zealand to buy France vessels for its naval coastguard.
The first visit by a top-ranking French minister in more than 10 years marks a turning-point in the relationship between the two countries.
"I happen to know that some French companies have offered ships to New Zealand," Mr Muselier said.
All that remains for me is to wish that New Zealand will make a competent choice as it did with Airbus."
Air New Zealand has added Airbus planes to its fleet.
Mr Muselier said: "New Zealand and France are friends - they are allies.
"We feel that France, New Zealand and Australia constitute the basis for stability in the Pacific region.
"The three Navies are already co-operating on surveillance work."
New Zealand and France opposed the US-led war on Iraq.
But Prime Minister Helen Clark has sent engineering troops to Basra.
"We wish to help our American friends in Iraq," said Mr Muselier.
"But our involvement must go through the United Nations.
"We wish to see Iraq keep its territorial integrity and remain a sovereign state."
Mr Muselier met Helen Clark and Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff yesterday.
A joint ministerial statement announcing a new project aimed at improving public health in the region was issued yesterday.
Said Mr Goff: "New Zealand and France have a warm relationship and have co-operated in recent years in development assistance to the Pacific."
Mr Goff has been invited to visit France next year. But a proposed visit by French President Jacques Chirac looks to be in doubt.
During his two-day visit, Mr Muselier attended a "moving" wreath-laying ceremony at Auckland's War Memorial Museum to commemorate the two countries's shared history as "brothers-in-arms".
"This reminded us of how much New Zealand fought alongside France during the world wars," he said.
But he acknowledged it was the "shared vision" on Iraq which drew the two countries closer together in the past year.
Like New Zealand, France did not make the Rugby World Cup finals.
Mr Muselier last night celebrated the arrival of the new Beaujolais vintage, a widely celebrated event on the French wine calendar.
He is one of three French Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs (equivalent to an associate minister).
His responsibilities include the Asia-Pacific region and the French overseas community.
He has been accompanied by MP Philippe Vitel, head of the France-NZ Friendship Group in France's National Assembly.
,,, good to see ya Iggy! I'm picking it's their insurance policy. Their country was trampled over in WWI and WWII, so it may be a "we're in the nuke club" peace of mind sort of thing or less likely, a stab at "monde" prestige - maybe a mix of the two.
Good to see you as well. I saw the thread title and knew you'd be around here somewhere.
I remember a party I went to near Vic that winter. A junior French attache was there for some reason. Handsome enough guy but he was treated like a pariah. I chatted him up for a few minutes and discovered he was oblivious to it all. New Zealand was a low prestige posting and he was just punching his ticket. "Like we care what Kiwis think!" was the remark which stuck in my mind.
Pretty much typified French arrogance - especially in that part of the world. He was groomed well for his role.
,,, we've got a Prime Minister who thinks the same way. She spends a lot of time offshore and way too much time in the Sorbonne's toilets, in my estimation.
And the nice thing about the UN is that the US doesn't even have a veto over appointments. In fact - just the opposite.
She'll be right at home. The nightlife will doubtless be more agreeable.
,,, as if New York hasn't had enough! Nah, she's not that important.
Lange actually took Mitterand at his word. Instead, if I recall correctly, they were given heroes' welcomes in France, and a Legion of Honor award to boot. Lange was left with a bit of egg on his face. In the end I'm not sure what Mitterand accomplished beyond increasing Greenpeace's standing in the South Pacific, since the protests continued anyway. They would have been better just off boarding and seizing the vessel during a protest - like the Soviets used to do. Might have made a nice target for the next test.
New Zealand unfortunately doesn't have a lot of muscle to make good any threats, unless they want to recall their ambassador and cut off trade. If they did I'm not sure France would notice much.
Come to that, we really haven't been able to punish France all that much ourselves - save in their pride. Though our informal boycott has hurt.
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