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| French president visits Madagascar before holiday |
| | www.chinaview.cn 2004-07-27 17:08:18 |
TANANARIVE, July 27 (Xinhuanet) -- French President Jacques Chirac arrived in Madagascar Tuesday morning for a short visit to the Indian Ocean island, just before a summer holiday in the nearby tourist heaven of Reunion.
Chirac's plane landed in Madagascan capital Tananarive Tuesday morning, welcomed by Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana.
According to Chirac's office, the French president's visit, his first to this former French colony, is aimed at enhancing ties between the two countries. Reports said the relations between France and Madagascar worsened in 2002, when France was one of the last western powers to recognize the legitimacy of Ravalomanana, who was elected late 2001.
France's top diplomat is meanwhile on an African diplomatic tour. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier started his four-legged trip to Africa Monday, aiming to address the problems in the restive Darfur region and other hot spots such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Barnier visited Senegal on Monday, and is to be in Darfur's El Fasher Tuesday and later to visit Chad. He will wrap up his African tour Wednesday after meeting South African President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria, discussing situations in the DRC.
However, Chirac's trip to Madagascar might not necessarily be a vital part of his country's diplomatic undertakings in Africa.Accompanied by wife Bernadette, Chirac will fly later Tuesday to Reunion for a 10-day holiday.
As the heat of summer drove millions of Europeans to beaches, European leaders are also seeking refuge from the hurly-burly of political life in ocean islands. Besides Chirac, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is also on a vacation in Caribbean island Barbados. Enditem |
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