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| Europe |
| French Diplomats on Strike |
| 2003-12-01 |
| Thousands of French diplomats from Rome to Riyadh staged an unprecedented strike on Monday over budget cuts they say make a mockery of President Jacques Chirac’s bid to boost French influence abroad. Embassy and consular services were reduced to a minimum in the one-day protest over cutbacks which unions say have hit diplomats’ allowances abroad and even led to paper shortages in some missions and Foreign Ministry offices. "The French approach is that you can solve world problems through diplomacy. If that is so, then give us the resources," said Yvan Sergeff, of public sector trade union USMAE. "(We) do not understand how President Jacques Chirac and the government proclaim grand ambitions for France internationally even as the human and financial means of this ministry are constantly shrinking," USMAE and five other unions said. USMAE said 126 of France’s 154 embassies — a diplomatic network second in spread only to that of the United States — were affected. The Foreign Ministry said most missions had been affected. In Washington, the French embassy was closed to non-urgent business. "We are only open for emergencies. Call back tomorrow," said an employee who answered the telephone there. EFL [Hysterical laughter] |
| Posted by:Chuck Simmins |
| #7 Funny : Some of the protesters's complaints are about Jacques Chirac's wife Bernadette spending an *awful* lot of money to stay in a roman luxury hotel, along with 50 followers, when she came to the Vatican for the Pope's anniversary, instead of going to one of the four palaces France possesses in the area. Her husband is also famous for living over-expensively when abroad, all this on credits from the ministry. Jacques has a problem with money, you understand... |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-12-1 4:32:16 PM |
| #6 Sorry RC, but the State Department only listen's to their Saudi overlords. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-12-1 2:30:39 PM |
| #5 *sigh* Why can't the US State Department go on strike? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-12-1 2:16:50 PM |
| #4 "(We) do not understand how President Jacques Chirac and the government proclaim grand ambitions for France even as..." Uh, guys, that would be because Chirac is just woofing. Glad I could clear that up for you. Call if you see any new aircraft carriers coming off the ways. |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-12-1 2:06:21 PM |
| #3 Is de villepin on strike or is |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-12-1 1:44:58 PM |
| #2 Ex-Baathists will have to wait to get their new passports? Oh, the humanity! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-12-1 1:29:48 PM |
| #1 Guess they cut out the four hour paid lunches and |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2003-12-1 1:07:49 PM |