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Le Monde; France
Topic Started: Feb 28 2014, 01:39 AM (656 Views)
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French soldier killed in Central African Republic
February 2014

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BANGUI | Central African Republic -- A 26 year old French soldier, participating in the French operation "Sangaris" in the Central African Republic, was fatally injured Sunday in a traffic accident when on a mission in the west of the country, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Defense.

Corporal Damien Dolet belonged to a Marine Infantry Tank Regiment (RICM), which he joined in 2011, the statement said. He served three months in the Serval operation in Mali and his mission to the Central African Republic was his second overseas operation.

Early Sunday afternoon, Corporal Dolet was on a mission with two other French soldiers and near the town of Bouar their light armored vehicle had an accident. "Despite the immediately care provided by a doctor, Corporal Damien Dolet died from his injuries." The two other soldiers were injured in the accident, both of them are however were released from hospital shortly after the incident.

Corporal Dolet had served three months in Mali, when participating in operation "Serval". The deployment to the Central African Republic was his second overseas operation, and according to the statement of the Ministry of Defense "he has served France for four years and four months, with the utmost dedication and bravery" . Quoted in the press, the defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that Corporal Dolet will return will be flown home to France tomorrow and the minister expressed "his deepest condolences to his family and loved ones."

This is the third French soldier that died during the deployment to the Central African Republic. Two other soldiers, Antoine Nicolas and Vokaer Quinio, aged 23 and 22 years, died in December 2013 during an operation to disarm Seleka fighters.

Currently two thousand French soldiers are involved in the operations in the Central African Republic. The French troops provide support to the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic, a force mandated by the United Nations Security Council.

Since last month the French forces have been the first to move outside the capital Bangui, particularly in the western parts of the country. Currently half of the French fighting elements operate in this part of the country now, with their priority being to secure the roads that connect the capital to the Central Cameroon border, where the city of Bouar is also located. This road, through which the bulk of the supply for Bangui comes, is vital to the recovery of the country's economy. French soldiers are mostly involved in reconnaissance missions on the roads around towns in this region, where the violence continues.

This month French Parliament must vote to extend the deployment of the French military presence in Central Africa for another four months, a vote which will most likely pass parliament.
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Even Socialist Party is considering a new Defence White Paper
March 2014

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PARIS | France -- The recent developments in Ukraine and the posturing by Russia in the entire affair has placed enormous pressure upon the French government to amend the current plans outlined in the 2013 White Paper on Defence and National Security.

According to the plans the operational element of the French Army would be reduced to a number of 66,000 troops, while overall the budget would gradually be reduced. "However even within the Socialist Party opposition to these plans is mounting, as a direct result of the Cold War mentality displayed by the Russian government," said one parliament member of the Socialist Party.

The source also revealed that the plans of Washington that emphasize a foreign policy shift to Asia, and include a reduction of U.S. forces in Europe are convincing more and more French parliament members that Europe will have to look more towards providing its own security. "The many plans outlined in the 2013 White Paper on Defence and National Security. including the gradual reduction of the defence budget to 1.5% of GDP, seem to be incompatible with the recent developments and the plans of the United States," the source added.

Sources within the military have already revealed that Chief of the Defence Staff Pierre Le Jolis de Villiers has been conducting preliminary talks with President Hollande on the possibility to undo some of the cost saving measures announced in the 2013 Defence White paper, however no official reaction has been provided as of yet.

Analysts expect that the developments could gain further momentum with the current crisis in the Crimea, and that some 'significant' cuts announced in the White Paper could be turned back, however a lot will depend on how the situation in Ukraine will develop.
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France extents deployment in Central African Republic
April 2014

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PARIS | France -- France’s parliament has approved extending what was meant to be a short-term military deployment to stem “the tide of genocide” in the Central African Republic.

The mandate for the French military expedition to the CAR was set to expire this month. The issue divided the lawmakers, with 60 percent of French society questioning the need to intervene in the country. Despite societal and parliamentary divisions, however, the measure was expected to pass in both houses.

Speaking on French television before the vote, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius argued that military intervention had staved off ethnic cleansing in the country. "If Operation Sangaris had not been launched, there would have been genocide in the Central African Republic," Fabius said on France 2 television, Reuters reported. "The French were right to intervene."

Opposition lawmakers, however, had been questioning prolonging the mission, saying the intervention over the last few months has proved counterproductive. "Nothing has been resolved, the country is still on fire," France 24 cited former Labor Minister Eric Woerth, a lawmaker from the center-right UMP party of ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy, as saying.

"We have avoided a bloodbath, a massacre," Woerth said, but added that there was "no state, no judiciary, no police [and] no schools."

France first agreed to send 1,600 troops in December last year to help restore order in the warring African state. Followed by a quick and decisive victory in last year's war against Islamists in Mali, France's military estimated that six months would be long enough to halt sectarian conflict in the Central African Republic, which began in March when Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country.

In January, Seleka leader Michel Djotodia was himself ousted from power after failing to halt atrocities from his former fighters, as Christian militias have increasingly carried out retaliatory attacks against the country’ Muslims.

Earlier this month, France deployed 400 more troops to bolster its troop presence, who are operating alongside a 6,000-strong African Union peacekeeping mission.

Ironically, the operation itself was named after a local butterfly with a brief life span, reflecting what was expected to be a short lived mission. CAR's interim president, Catherine Samba Panza, has called for international troops to remain in the country until elections due to be held by March 2015.

French Defense Ministry officials privately conceded a mere show of French military force would be enough to restore order in the nation of 4.5 million. But as the nation descends into civil war, the UN human rights chief has warned of “ethnic-religious cleansing.”

Speaking ahead of the parliamentary vote, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Adrian Edwards told reporters that more than 15,000 people in 18 locations "are at present surrounded and under threat by armed groups," various local sources reported.

He said that minority Muslim civilians, who are fleeing to the country’s northwest, face a “very high risk of attack and urgently need better security" and more international troops on the ground. "It will take longer than expected because the level of hatred and violence is worse than we had imagined," French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said last week, France 24 reported. "No-one can accept partition. It must be stopped." The Minister however also added that Paris will try and replace some of the French troops with U.N. troops, "for this we will contact various nations that have indicated their willingness to participate," the Minister said.
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Note: Based upon article of RT.
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NATO calls upon French government to halt Russian warship sale due to Ukraine crisis
April 2014

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PARIS | France -- One of the two French-built Mistral-class warships purchased by Russia got its first test run on Wednesday in western France. Despite the crisis in Crimea, and calls from NATO partners to cancel the sale, Paris said it was not considering to scrap the agreement it has signed with Moscow at the moment.

Despite France’s vocal diplomatic efforts on behalf of Ukraine, Paris still plans to supply Russia with two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to strengthen Moscow’s navy.

The “Vladivistok” helicopter carrier set sail at sunset from the French Atlantic port of Saint-Nazaire for a three-day sea trial. The 22,000-tonne warship is capable of deploying up to 450 soldiers, helicopters and tanks in amphibious assaults. The “Vladivistok” is a Mistral class helicopter carrier, of which France agreed to sell two to Russia in in 2011, attracting criticism from several NATO allies afraid of Russia’s military resurgence in the wake of the 2008 Georgian war.

As the French shipbuilder floated out the "Vladivostok" on Wednesday, senior diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the US, and leading Western powers met in Paris to try to bring an end to the crisis.

Despite the deployment of thousands of Russian troops in Crimea, France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday that the crisis had not reached the point where France would consider halting the sale of warships to Russia. Asked on national radio whether France would scrap the deal, Fabius replied: "We aren't there. For the moment we are trying to stop the Russian movement in Ukraine and maintain, or rather, establish dialogue. However the option to scrap the contract is not of the table."

Despite the efforts by several NATO allies to convince France to scrap the sale, the French government has continued to insist that the deal will be carried out, despite the crisis. A spokesperson however had added that it could very well be possible that 'certain' developments could result in a review of the current stance.

However, Philippe Migault - an expert on Russia and the arms industry at the Paris-based IRIS think tank - told FRANCE 24 that, “a signed contract is a signed contract.” “Any delay or cancellation in the Mistral deal means that the shipbuilder would have to pay fees. This deal also safeguards a lot of jobs in Saint-Nazaire”, said Migault.

The lucrative deal has been heavily criticized by several US lawsmakers, who feared that the Mistral-class warships delivered to the Russians would include the highly-prized NATO communication and weapons systems.

However, the French shipbuilder has since confirmed that the communication system would be fitted “only if the Russian navy receives NATO approval”. “This deal doesn’t involve any transfer of sensitive technology. Also, France sells the helicopter carrier, but it doesn’t sell the helicopters that go with it, nor the advanced communication systems and sensors of the French vessels,” said Migault.

The arms industry expert also believes that the delivery of these two helicopter carriers would not significantly further tip the balance of power in the Black Sea to the Russians.

The “Vladivostok”, whose delivery to the Russian navy is set for the last quarter of 2014, is to join Moscow’s Pacific fleet. Its sister ship “Sevastopol”, still under construction, is named after the Crimean strategic harbour at the center of the current Ukrainian crisis.
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France could withdraw 1,000 soldiers from CAR by July, but will most likely remain gendarme de l'Afrique
May 2014

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BANGUI | Central African Republic -- Following a debate within the United Nations General Assembly it has become evident that the French government most likely will be unable to remove all its troops from the Central African Republic, following only limited willingness from the international community to provide forces to replace the French troops there.

Despite this setback as much as a 1,000 troops could return home by July, as Sweden, Germany and China have expressed their willingness to replace a portion of the French soldiers. "The troops that will replace the French soldiers could start arriving in the CAR next month. Taking into account a proper transfer of tasks and information, this would mean that 'Operation Sangaris' could be scaled down to roughly 1,000 men by the end of July 2014," said a French military official.

Despite their efforts French politicians have apparently been unable to achieve the complete withdrawal from the CAR. While initially 'Operation Sangaris' was planned to be a short military deployment, it appears that together with 'Operation Serval', the French operation in Mali, the French government will have to move away from promises made under President Sarkozy, namely the reduction of the French military presence in Africa.

During a speech in Cape Town in 2008, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that the defence agreements France had with its former colonies would be renegotiated and that ‘France will not indefinitely maintain armed forces in Africa’. An important military base in the CAR had already been closed down. Plans were in the pipeline to drastically reduce the number of French troops in Gabon, Senegal and Chad, and to close down the French base in Côte d’Ivoire, while keeping only one important French military base in Djibouti. These plans now have been placed on the backburner, most likely due to the operations in Mali and the CAR.
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France condemns Russia's annexation of Crimea
July 2014

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PARIS | France -- French president François Hollande has condemned Russia’s annexation of Crimea, declaring in a statement that France does not recognize a new status for Crimea.

The President also lashed out at the Russian attempts to deny any Russian involvement in the Crimea referendum, stating that it is clear for everybody that Russia created the entire situation under which the illegitimate referendum could take place. "Russia also denied any involvement with the pro-Russian militia's that suddenly appeared on the peninsula, a day after dozens of Russian aircraft were spotted at nearby airfields. However they could not provide any explanation as to why these militia's had the latest Russian gear and armament and where using Russian trucks to move around the peninsula," the President added.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that France is now officially considering its controversial sale of warships to Russia, if other EU countries also responded firmly to Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.

Minister Fabius stressed that he expected other countries to share the some of the sanctions burden, as "there should be no reason why it should only be France who takes this kind of action," he told the French radio station Europe 1. "On the one hand we cannot envisage supplying Russia indefinitely with arms given the way it has behaved, on the other hand there is the reality of jobs and the economy," he added.

Several sources already indicated that the EU was already considering severe sanctions against Russia over its role in Russia, and it is likely that these will be announced in the coming days. According to one of the sources the sanctions, which will aim financial institutions doing business with Russia, could severely hurt the Russian economy, as private capital outflow from Russia is also on the increase, according to a report of London-based Capital Economics.
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French minister supports allowing 'clean' shale gas fracking
July 2014

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PARIS | France -- A split over France's energy policies has emerged within the government, with one minister supporting an experimental type of "clean fracking" and making calls for not reducing the French reliance of nuclear energy.

French Minister for Industrial Renewal Arnaud Montebourg, a member of President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party, is calling on the president to reconsider his opposition to hydraulic fracturing due to what he calls the emergence of environmentally safer methods to extract natural gas trapped in shale rock. At the same time he also called upon the President to reconsider his plans to cut the country’s reliance on nuclear power. Electricite de France SA’s 58 atomic reactors currently provide more than three-quarters of electricity, a proportion Hollande in the past has vowed to reduce to 50 percent by around 2025.

Despite Hollande's public reiteration of opposition, on environmental grounds, to any exploitation of shale gas during his tenure, Montebourg has renewed his efforts to push for a change in policy -- touting a potential of a type of fracking that uses fluoropropane, rather than a mix of water and chemical additives, to break apart underground rock formations. AT the same time Montebourg highlighted that the recent Ukraine crisis indicates that Russia should not be considered a safe and stable source of energy, and that Hollande would make a wise decision to scrap his plans to reduce nuclear energy and authorize the clean fracking.

Other ministers, including Housing Minister Cecile Duflot of the Green Party, or EELV, and Socialist Ecology Minister Philippe Martin, remain staunchly opposed, revealing a split within governing the Socialist Green coalition.

"We can have disagreements in a majority coalition with our Green Party friends, but I do not accept that should be the victim of a form of intellectual terrorism," Montebourg said last week on the radio network Europe 1, pointing to the development of "clean alternatives" to traditional hydraulic fracturing. He continued to state that in recent surveys a large majority of the French public favored France’s use of nuclear power with only a small percentage expressing they opposed it. "The proportion of people who say France should reduce its dependence on nuclear power because of the energy’s dangers is declining, and the majority is in favor of retaining tnuclear energy," Montebourg said, calling upon the President to act on these wishes.

A report published by the French weekly Le Canard Enchaine indicated Montebourg is backing a proposal to allow local governments to decide whether they want to allow fracking by employing fluoropropane, a non-flammable liquid used as a propellant in inhalers and fire extinguishers, as an alternative to the banned techniques. The fluoropropane method is being developed by the Texas company EcorpStim, but has yet to be tested in France.

The most common method to tap shale gas is to inject high-pressure streams of water mixed with chemicals into bedrock formations, prompting natural gas to bubble up. But this approach carries the risk of groundwater pollution and even earthquakes.

The other method being employed in the United States is to use propane, which eliminates the need for chemicals. However, there are risks of explosions. The risks would be greater in France, where the population is much denser than in the United States, and each well would have to be put in highest category in terms of industrial risk.

Le Figaro reported a study published last year by the French Parliamentary Office for Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices found that while costly, the use of fluoropropane has the advantage of "removing 100 percent of the industrial risks."

Despite these reports a large portion of the government ministers continue to oppose plans to allow shale gas extraction or to scrap the plans to reduce nuclear energy. Montebourg, however, stated that perhaps the officials need to look at the recent developments in the world, as well as read the latest technology reports, "as these will most likely convince them to be realistic and honest about the technologies and the overall benefits they would provide."

Duflot told public broadcaster France Info the pro-shale gas arguments are being "fed by lobbyists and economic interests," while Martin said the proposal ignores the need to cut carbon dioxide emissions, Le Figaro reported. "The question for me is whether we can afford to operate new high-CO2-emitting fossil fuels while we have set a target to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our consumption hydrocarbons by 30 percent by 2030," he said.

Montebourg answered to the claim by asking that if the CO2 emissions were an issue, "why the government continues to hold on to its plans to significantly reduce the number of nuclear power plants, as these plants have the lowest CO2 output by far."
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France plans to suspend plans to further reduce military spending
August 2014

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PARIS | France -- Despite the plans of the Socialist Party to reduce defence spending in the coming years, it is becoming more and more likely that such plans will be postponed due to political developments.

According to military analysts it is unlikely that France will increase the share of its military spending in terms of percentage of GDP, but overall it is believed that the level will not be reduced to 1.50%. "The developments on the Crimea have resulted in the French public, and even those that are highly supportive of the Socialist Party, becoming less positive towards significantly reducing the military expenditure," a military analyst stated. While France does not spend 2.0% of its GDP on the military, due to the policies of the Socialist Party, the plans to reduce the spending further, appear to have been suspended.

The news was received with optimism in the French defence industry sector. And while the sector does not have much to complain - as the French Ministry of Defence revealed that in the coming years it will introduce Horizon class frigates, Rafale fighter aircraft, A400M Atlas transport aircraft, NH90 helicopters, Tigre attack helicopters, Barracuda class submarines, and Aquitaine class frigates - in terms of near future orders, "the announcement will mean that in the long run orders will most likely be granted, and as a result the future of an important French industry seems to be secured," said Jean Bernard, a spokesperson for Dassault Aviation.

Under its 2013 Defence White Paper France initially planned to reduce its troop numbers with 34,000 troops over a period of six years, and while it is still highly likely that troop numbers will be reduced somewhat, the big cuts announced in the most recent Defence White Paper will not be carried out. According to the Ministry of Defence a new Defence White Paper will be announced in 2015, which will set the new guidelines for the French Armed Forces, who overall appeared to be pleased with the new development.

Officially the Socialist Party still has to announce the plans, however numerous sources close to the government revealed that this is only a matter of time, and such announcement could be made as early as next month.
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French government revokes naval warship agreement with Russia
September 2014

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TOULON | France -- French president François Hollande has confirmed that after long debate and discussions within the government the decision has been taken to revoke the agreement between French shipyard DCNS and the Russian Ministry of Defence.

"Due to the crisis in the Crimea, the French government has decided that it will terminate the agreement that would see the sale of two Mistral class warships to Russia," a press release mentioned. It is believed that Paris has come to this decision after pressure from various NATO members grew considerably.

According to the French government the cancellation will not mean that Russia will not see the return of the payment it has already made. As a result it is likely that Moscow will be granted over US$1 billion, an amount it has already provided for the construction of the two warships.

However despite the restitution of payments already made, sources close to the Russian government have indicated that Moscow will ask for compensation, as a result of the broken agreement. While Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin stated that "France is starting to betray the trust we place in it as a reliable supplier, while at the same time the breach off the agreement will severely damage France's reputation globally."

A response was provided by French Foreign Minister Fabius, who stated that the agreement cannot, in good faith, be honoured "due to the actions of Russia in the Crimea, while it would also be impossible to continue the deal, while heavy sanctions have also been instituted against Russia." He added that "France cannot institute heavy economic sanctions on the one hand, and yet continue military cooperation with Moscow."
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