Latest update: 03/08/2009 

- Afghanistan - agriculture - Bernard Kouchner - European Union - France - swimming


In the French papers
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A daily look at some of the stories in the French papers.
By Aurore Cloe DUPUIS (text)

 

Le Figaro
 
 
Nine foreign troops have been killed over the weekend, in Afghanistan.
 
On Sunday, a British report questioned the West’s mission in the country, saying it lacked realistic strategy. Now the French are asking themselves the same question.
 
The French newspaper Le Figaro interviewed the Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, who says the “French mission is justified.”
 
He says the role of the international community, is not to impose peace in Afghanistan, but create the “conditions” for peace.
 
At first he said, the aim was to rid the country of al-Qaeda. Now, the aim is to defend a democratic government.
 
According to the French doctor, it’s important to gain the population’s trust. He said France is playing a big role, in helping with medical and educational projects in the region.
 
 
 
Ouest France
 
 
 
The French newspaper Ouest France did a portrait of the French soldier, killed over the weekend.
 
Anthony Bodin, 22, was the 29th French soldier to be killed in combat in Afghanistan. A group of insurgents reportedly ambushed him and two other soldiers, northwest of Kabul.
 
According to the article, the ordeal lasted an hour and a half.  Anthony Bodin was shot dead. The two other soldiers, were also hit, but they’ve reportedly survived the attack.
 
 
 
 
Aujourd’hui en France
 
 
 
Five hundred million euros - that’s how much money French farmers must reimburse the European Union.
 
According to Aujourd’hui en France, Brussels has asked French farmers to pay back EU subsidies, originally given in case of an emergency, for example floodings, climate change, and poor harvests.
 
But the European Union says French farmers have used these subsidies for other reasons, like buying tractors, a fridge and using money to advertise their goods!
 
Some of these subsidies were handed out in 1992, and many of the French farmers who received them are reported to have died or to have changed jobs. The article says the French Ministry of Agriculture is going to have a hard time getting the money back .
 
 
 
 
Liberation
 
 
 
After two weeks of competition at the World Swimming Championships in Rome, the French came out 20th overall. France won three silver and three bronze medals.
 
“Not great”, according to the French newspaper Liberation. The paper compares the results to March 2007, when Laure Manaudou won five medals.
 
The big winner of the World Championships is the American Michael Phelps, who won his fifth medal over the weekend.
 
 
 
 
L’humanité
 
 
 
Thirty world records have been beaten, in these swimming championships. According to the French newspaper L’Humanite, that’s because of the high-tech swim suits were allowed in the competition.  
 
It’s the last time these suits will be allowed in such championships. The newspaper says it will be difficult to break such world records in the future.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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