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| Europe |
| Has Christmas come early? French diplomats ready to strike |
| 2003-11-28 |
| French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin has asked diplomats to abandon a worldwide strike planned for Monday. He admitted that circumstances were "difficult" in a speech to about 600 staff late on Thursday, but said the strike plans were "no ordinary matter". Union leaders said on Friday they expected 40 embassies and consulates to close in the first strike of its kind. They are protesting against budget cuts, job losses, reduced overseas allowances and bonuses. Mr de Villepin’s speech, in which he promised to give full consideration to staff grievances, was posted on the internet for the benefit of diplomats overseas. "Employees do not understand how the president of the republic and the government can proclaim their grand ambitions for France on the international scene while at the same time the human and financial resources available to the ministry are constantly declining," the unions said in a statement. The government’s budget for next year - which is to be debated in the Senate on Monday - envisages a 2% reduction in foreign ministry costs, and a number of job cuts. France’s foreign ministry network is second in size only to that of the United States employing 9,200 permanent staff and 13,000 local employees around the world. In addition to 154 embassies there are 98 consulates, and nearly 500 cultural offices and French-language schools. Their lack of resources was exposed last month when the paper supply company refused to make new deliveries until its account was settled. Staff had no paper for three days. "There isn’t a kopek at the ministry," said Yvan Sergesse of the UNSA union. "Half the lifts are out of order because there is no money to mend them. Abroad staff are working up to 14 hours per day." There have been strikes at the ministry before, but this is the first time that unions have called on diplomats and embassy staff around the world to join in. "According to the soundings we are getting, it is going well - there is a lot of support," said Daneille Vazeille of the CGT union. You couldn’t make this stuff up... |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #5 Wonder if perhaps the French diplomatic strike could spread to other European countries. Sounds like a positive development! On NATO, seems to me it's been an alliance in search of a mission for a decade. The fiasco of Kosovo confirmed that what was a tremendous success as a defensive alliance in the Cold War wasn't neccessarily able to serve other functions, even on the European periphery. Afghanistan today confirms that for out-of-area land missions, NATO's not terribly relevant. The real contributions of several European militaries today (including German naval activities) probably could be arranged bilaterally, if need be. As are the contributions in Iraq. In any contingency larger than displacing a fragile African dictatorship, no NATO member save the UK has had any meaningful out-of-area military capability for decades. I'm talking combat, not "peacekeeping" quiet areas. Move the bases, accept our spectacular success in Europe, and adapt to the current threat. NATO's decline will probably be a net positive for US and European security as the Euros face reality and we re-orient our activities around the truly reliable and capable. On a global level -- militarily -- the UK, Australia, Spain, Italy, Singapore, the Philippines, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Bahrain (to name a few) are our new alliance, whether through bases or actual participation. Law enforcement and intel bring in many more. NATO was a means to an end that's now moot; current efforts to "protect" its status resemble an irrational end in themselves. |
| Posted by: IceCold 2003-11-28 7:28:11 PM |
| #4 Bulldog, the next time the Germans run amok let's find a way to liberate Europe that doesn't involve going through France, OK? These dipwits aren't worth setting free. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2003-11-28 6:13:46 PM |
| #3 I'm impressed that Minister deVillepin is able to produce so much bullshit with such meager resources. He should be awarded the Order of Lenin. |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-11-28 5:52:27 PM |
| #2 Only in France could Diplomats be unionized. Christ on a crutch, how do these people expect anybody to take them seriously. |
| Posted by: Cheddarhead 2003-11-28 5:26:22 PM |
| #1 But-but-but-but-but HOW CAN THIS BE?! Le Euro is above $1.20, how can Le Republique de Francais be le bankrupt?! HA! SUCK IT, Jean-Pierre. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-11-28 5:09:20 PM |