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France Pledges €17 Billion to Help Haiti
PARIS (AFP) The French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs today announced that France is committing €17 billion to help Haiti rebuild after the catastrophic earthquake that struck the impoverished Caribbean nation six months ago claiming up to 300,000 lives.
The announcement was made in a press conference this morning in Paris, where the ministry unveiled the French government’s new bilateral Framework Initiative for Haiti’s Reconstruction (FIHR).
©AFP
The announcement was made in a press conference this morning in Paris, where the ministry unveiled the French government’s new bilateral Framework Initiative for Haiti’s Reconstruction (FIHR).
©AFP
France Pledges €17 Billion to Help Haiti
07/14 | 9:32 GMT
©AFP/BP
EXTERNAL LINK:
Video of Press Conference Announcing Bastille Day Framework
AFP is not responsible for the content of external links
Maurice LeClerc
PARIS (AFP) The French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs today announced that France is committing €17 billion to help Haiti rebuild after the catastrophic earthquake that struck the impoverished Caribbean nation six months ago claiming up to 300,000 lives.
The announcement was made in a press conference this morning in Paris, where the ministry unveiled the French government’s new bilateral Framework Initiative for Haiti’s Reconstruction (FIHR).
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner stated in an interview with AFP today that «six months after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, the need for the international community to step up and help Haiti has never been more urgent. »
"Due to France’s shared history and friendship with Haiti, we are taking these responsibilities very seriously," stated Kouchner.
The agreement includes a schedule for France to reimburse Haiti for the 90 million gold francs that Haiti, a former French colony, paid to France from 1825 until 1947. This historic payment, which compensated France for profits lost from the slave trade after Haitian independence, has long been a source of tension between the two countries. Under Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Haitian government launched legal proceedings over the indemnity payment, and the issue also sparked protest during President Nicholas’ Sarkozy’s historic February 2010 visit to Haiti.
In repaying this sum, which according to the ministry’s calculations amounts to € 17 billion (21 billion USD) when adjusted for inflation and a minimal rate of interest, Kouchner stated that “France is launching a bold new era of cooperation with Haiti—one based firmly in our shared values of liberty, fraternity and equality. »
Kouchner added that he «sincerely hopes that other governments will follow in our example, and take responsibility and action to correct the mistakes of the past in this hour of Haiti’s greatest need."
Numerous reports marking the recent six-month anniversary of the Haiti earthquake note that much of the aid pledged from wealthy countries has yet to be delivered. See also: Press Conference Video
07/14 | 9:32 GMT
©AFP/BP
EXTERNAL LINK:
Video of Press Conference Announcing Bastille Day Framework
AFP is not responsible for the content of external links
Maurice LeClerc
PARIS (AFP) The French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs today announced that France is committing €17 billion to help Haiti rebuild after the catastrophic earthquake that struck the impoverished Caribbean nation six months ago claiming up to 300,000 lives.
The announcement was made in a press conference this morning in Paris, where the ministry unveiled the French government’s new bilateral Framework Initiative for Haiti’s Reconstruction (FIHR).
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner stated in an interview with AFP today that «six months after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, the need for the international community to step up and help Haiti has never been more urgent. »
"Due to France’s shared history and friendship with Haiti, we are taking these responsibilities very seriously," stated Kouchner.
The agreement includes a schedule for France to reimburse Haiti for the 90 million gold francs that Haiti, a former French colony, paid to France from 1825 until 1947. This historic payment, which compensated France for profits lost from the slave trade after Haitian independence, has long been a source of tension between the two countries. Under Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Haitian government launched legal proceedings over the indemnity payment, and the issue also sparked protest during President Nicholas’ Sarkozy’s historic February 2010 visit to Haiti.
In repaying this sum, which according to the ministry’s calculations amounts to € 17 billion (21 billion USD) when adjusted for inflation and a minimal rate of interest, Kouchner stated that “France is launching a bold new era of cooperation with Haiti—one based firmly in our shared values of liberty, fraternity and equality. »
Kouchner added that he «sincerely hopes that other governments will follow in our example, and take responsibility and action to correct the mistakes of the past in this hour of Haiti’s greatest need."
Numerous reports marking the recent six-month anniversary of the Haiti earthquake note that much of the aid pledged from wealthy countries has yet to be delivered. See also: Press Conference Video
For more information:
http://www.agencefrancepress.com/afpcom/en...
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Finalement, la France rembourse les 17,5 milliards d’euros qu’elle doit à Haïti !!! (video)
[ vu 574 fois ]
publié dans Haiti Reconstruction le Mercredi 14 Juillet, 2010
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Le Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes a annoncé aujourd’hui que la France s’engageait à verser 17 milliards d’Euros pour la reconstruction d’Haïti après le catastrophique tremblement de terre qui a frappé il y a six mois cette nation caribéenne déjà démunie, faisant près de 300 000 victimes.
L’annonce a été faite lors d’une conférence de presse ce matin à Paris, à l’occasion de laquelle ont été dévoilés les détails de cette nouvelle initiative bilatérale pour la reconstruction d’Haïti mise de l’avant par le gouvernement français.
Le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Bernard Kouchner a déclaré, lors d’une entrevue accordée à l’AFP aujourd’hui, que « six mois après le tremblement de terre qui a dévasté Haïti, il est temps pour la communauté internationale de parler d’une même voix et d’offrir une aide concrète à Haïti. »
« Étant donné que la France et Haïti partagent une histoire commune et une longue amitié, nous prenons ces responsabilités très au sérieux »,
a affirmé Kouchner.
L’entente prévoit un calendrier qui permettra à la France de rembourser à Haïti les 90 millions de francs or que son ancienne colonie avait dû lui payer entre 1825 et 1947. Ce paiement historique, longtemps source de tension entre les deux pays, avait été exigé par la France pour compenser la perte de profits du trafic d’esclaves suite à l’indépendance d’Haïti. Sous la présidence de Jean-Bertrand Aristide, le gouvernement haïtien avait d’ailleurs lancé des procédures légales visant l’annulation de cette dette, un enjeu qui avait aussi suscité de vives protestations lors de la visite historique de Nicolas Sarkozy à Haïti en février dernier.
Selon Kouchner, en remboursant cette somme qui, lorsque l’on tient compte de l’inflation ainsi que d’un taux d’intérêt minimal, atteint 17 milliards d’Euros (21 milliards de dollars US),
« La France inaugure une nouvelle ère de coopération avec Haïti, une ère qui repose fermement sur les valeurs de liberté, de fraternité et d’égalité que nous partageons. »
Le ministre a par la suite ajouté :
« J’espère sincèrement que d’autres gouvernements vont suivre notre exemple, qu’ils vont prendre leurs responsabilités et agir pour réparer les erreurs du passé au moment où Haïti se trouve dans la plus grande nécessité. »
Plusieurs rapports sortis à l’occasion des six mois passés depuis le tremblement de terre d’Haïti notent qu’une grande partie de l’aide promise par les pays riches n’a pas encore été livrée.
STATEMENT OF THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AND EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
(PARIS, JULY 14, 2010)
France Unveils Bastille Day Framework Initiative for Haiti’s Reconstruction
Ever since Haiti was ravaged by the devastating earthquake of January 12, France has called for international debt forgiveness for Haiti.
For too long, Haiti has been saddled with the burden of foreign debt. Her development crippled by foreign debt service payments, she has for too long staggered from catastrophe to catastrophe. The disaster that has befallen the Haitian people is clearly not merely the result of January’s eathquake. It is in part the result of long-term economic and social policies.
If a clean break from this disastrous cycle is to be made in the current reconstruction efforts, it will require bold action not just from Haitians but also from creditor nations and international financial institutions.
Today, I am pleased to announce our boldest initiative yet to free up the funds that will be so essential for Haitians to rebuild their country after the devastation of the earthquake.
The French Republic and Haiti share deep ties of history, language and culture. Bastille Day is a perfect occasion to celebrate the cherished values of our rebublic--values that were also a beacon to the Haitian people when they cast off the shackles of slavery, and founded the second republic of the Americas.
In the context of our national holiday, we are thus announcing the dawn of a new era of cooperation between France and Haiti—a partnership based firmly in these shared values. Whereas our nations' relations were, historically, at times tumultuous, today we start with a clean slate united by compassion and cooperation.
Under the Framework Initiative for Haiti’s Reconstruction, unveiled today by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, France is repaying the historic debt of 90 million gold francs Haiti paid to France following the former’s independence at the dawn of the 19th century.
Some will say the current context of the global financial crisis is no time for such an ambitious initiative. Yet it is precisely in such times of crisis, particularly as we work to rebuild the global financial system, that our deepest-held values are most important. « Liberty, equality and fraternity » : these must be the pillars of the new global financial architecture if we want to assure that—this time around—Haitians too can share in economic development.
The French government is proud to announce our new Framework Initiative, and we encourage other governments to follow in our example, and take responsibility and action to correct the mistakes of the past in this hour of Haiti’s greatest need.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is working side-by-side with the Haitian government and local civil society sector in facilitating plans for the transfer of the required funds. At a domestic level, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is working with the Central Bank of France, with advisement from the OECD, IMF and European Central Bank to prepare a long term budgetary plan. The Ministry is also working concurrently and liaising closely with the Overseas secretary as well as our Eurozone partners.
Under the new framework, the 90 million gold francs, which Haiti paid France from 1825 until 1947, will be reimbursed in a yearly budget over the course of 50 years. Economic advisors working with the Ministry have calculated that the total sum amounts to € 17 billion including adjustments for inflation and a minimal interest rate of 5 percent per annum.
A total budget of €2 million will be released by the end of the month. Minister Bernard Kouchner will be available for further comment after the celebration of the national holiday.
Here is the english version of the video:
http://www.diplomatiegov.fr/rubrique.gb-14-07-2010.html
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/French+foreign+ministry+probes+fake+website/3282011/story.html
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