Posted on 01/01/2005 10:52:39 AM PST by Pikamax
France angered by US aid chiefs comments AFP: 12/31/2004 WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (AFP) - The French ambassador to the United States has angrily condemned the head of the US government aid agency for critical comments the official made about France's humanitarian aid.
"I was surprised to learn of the shocking and uncalled for comments you thought fit to make during an interview" on Wednesday with Fox news television, said the ambassador Jean-David Levitte, in a letter to Andrew Natsios, administrator of the US Agency for International Aid.
"I would be interested in learning your reasons for misguidedly impugning France this way," Levitte added in the letter dated Thursday, which requested a meeting between the two.
Levitte set out details of France's response to the Asia tsunami disaster and its general aid programme. "These will help you rectify the inaccuracies in your comments."
Natsios said that France was not a big aid donor in the interview on the international response to the tsunami devastation.
"I'm not an expert in the French aid programme but they do not tend to be dominant figures in aid," Natsios told Fox.
"The British are, the European Union is, the Japanese are, we are, the Canadians are, and in this case Australia, even though it's a relatively small country, has been very generous."
Questioned about France's response to the Indian Ocean disaster, Natsios said "The aid programme in France is not that big, one. And two, they tend to do loans and you don't make loans in an emergency."
Levitte said in his letter that up to Thursday, France had given 20.5 million euros (about 28 million dollars).
"Naturally this is in the form of outright donations, not loans, as it is of course always the case for our emergency and humanitarian assistance." France is also backing calls for a debt moratorium for the stricken countries around the Indian Ocean.
France has also sent military planes and a helicopter carrier to the region to help in the relief effort.
US leaders have reacted angrily to comments by a top UN official that rich nations have been "stingy" in their aid to poor nations.
The United States has officially committed 35 million dollars to the operation and also sent military planes and ships. But it has said more aid is on the way and vowed to play a leading role in helping the tsunami disaster nations where more than 125,000 people have been killed.
The French ambassador's letter was released by his embassy.
Hey, it's not our fault France decided to issue a stingy LOAN. I hope Natsios declines the offer, but if he does intend to meet, I hope Natsios really tells this Ambassador what he really meant to say.
When will the French come to appreciate that truly free nations don't give a good gosh damn about what they have to say?
Where is the Frog's one screw aircraft carrier to help out? Ours is already offshore and at work. Sending out helicopters to do grunt work.
The French are always happy to donate whine.
The French are offended? Well, that's a new one. (Not!)
Three sure things in life: death, taxes, and "the French are offended."
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/quake1e_20050101.htm
The U.S. pledge of $350 million comes after critics had called its initial offering miserly considering the United States' vast wealth. In New York, Secretary of State Colin Powell also said more U.S. aid could be forthcoming.
France has promised $57 million, Britain $95 million, Sweden $75.5 million and Spain $68 million. Individual donations reached tens of millions of dollars. Other nations pledging aid included Iran, $627,000, and Nepal, $100,000.
The Asian Development Bank will make as much as $325 million of existing and new loans available immediately to Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka to finance reconstruction, the bank said today.
Individuals worldwide sent millions of dollars. The American Red Cross said it had raised $43.7 million as of Thursday. General Motors Corp. and its workers are donating $3 million in cash and vehicles, GM said Thursday.
It just wouldn't be France without their constant complaining and whining about everyone but themselves.
Pi** on the french.
The USA pissed off the socialists because we did not just donate money we also donated teh infrastruction to controll the money. The french must have been counting on donating the money to the UN who would in turn have bribed french officials to buy french products which would have kick bribes back to the UN.
Pissing off the french is always worthwhile.
Froggies suck! Enough said.
Always.
French seeth, threaten further seething. Ooo, we're scared.
The $3.5bn Charles de Gaulle - Europe's only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier - has been plagued by technical problems.
It had to abandon its first sea trials in 1999 after only 48 hours because of a fault in an engine.
The ship was due to join the French fleet at Christmas but was beset by propeller problems that have dogged it for much of this year. It was only refloated on 8 November.
"The French are always happy to donate whine."
The French ruling elite is Vintage Vichy.
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