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France’s Foreign Policy

RANCES foreign policy is based on certain fundamental principles: the right of peoples to self-determination. respect for human rights and democratic principles, respect for the rule of law and cooperation among nations. These principles underlie Frances twofold concern to preserve its national independence while at the same time working to foster regional and international solidarity.
The 14th of July commemorates. as usually believed the beginning of the French Revolution with the storming of the Bastille.
But in reality this date was only chosen after this event In fact, it was the French Parliament which decided on 7th July 1880 on a proposal moved by Member of Parliament Raspail to accept this date as National Day to celebrate not only the storming of Bastille la prison, symbolising the arbitrary power) but also the Festival of Federation in 1790 (symbol of national reconciliation).
Not only in the eyes of the French but to others also, the 14th of July is embodied with symbolics and concepts stemming from the I Sth century which is also called the age of enlightenment What would have been the modem political thinking without the contribution of the 18th century French philosophers like Voltaire. Rousseau. Condorcet. Montesquieu. not to mention the others. In fact, those were the thinkers who had given the crowning touch to those concepts. as for example, ot liberty the human rights, state of right, separation ot powers and even that of happiness As said, the revolutionary Louis de Saint-Just: happiness is a new notion ui Europe
Besides, these concepts of universal nature which had influenced the drafting of the Constitution of USA (Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin have lived in Paris) and that of the states of South America under the impetus of liberator Simon Bolivar who himself was an admirer of French philosophers of the 18th century and of the French Revolution as well It is this noble spirit and emancipatory of mankind that led the Gennan poet and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to say that it was a new era of world history that began with the French Revolution It is also this spirit of enlightenment and liberty which stand by the United states at the entry of New York with the Statue of Liberty A work of art of the French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi Last of all. it is the same spirit that illuminates the democratic institutions of Bangladesh from which number of Bangladeshi politicians, academics and men with goodwill have drawn inspirations and who have established the reputation of France in your country The creation of a Human Rights Commission and the appointment of ombudsman in the near future are being picked up from the same process
As you know. Bangladesh and France are having an unfettered friendly relations. My country is a friend of
Bangladesh Irom ils beginning and the remembrance of great writer Andre Malraux extending his support to Dhaka and his meeting with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman remain as an unforgettable event. Since the independence of Bangladesh. France has been extending its technical, financial. cultural and humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh Much has been accomplished in several sectors to help Bangladesh in its development efforts These relations, assured and fruitful, were reinforced in 1999 following the visit to Parts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other political personalities of Bangladesh and also through the meeting between our two Prime Ministers in New York These events paved the way to further increase the political dialogue and to intensify our economic and cultural relations. The year 1999 has witnessed a noteworthy progress in our commercial exchanges which rose to 3.4 billion French Francs as against 3 1 billion in 1998. The export of Bangladesh to France was around 2 4 billion French Francs whereas France exported goods worth 1 billion French Francs to Bangladesh during this period. After Germany. France is the second business partner of Bangladesh in Europe One may very well hope that this positive trend will continue
It is with this optimistic note that 1 intend to conclude, expressing my admiration for (he valiant and industrious people of Bangladesh who. despite blow of fate, hold their head high after each ordeal like a Phoenix to march ahead towards progress and prosperity
France’s Foreign Policy
Iraq/Kuwait border.
France also supports UN development aid action.
Development cooperation
Development cooperation the multifaceted expression of France's solidarity with the
poorest countries, which it intends to maintain and step up. France's official development assistance (including both bilateral and multilateral aid) amounted to 37 billion francs
(5.64 billion euros) I e 0.45% of GDP in 1977. making France ihe third largest development aid donor after Japan and the United States. Bilateral aid. which accounts for 76% of the total aid effort, is concentrated on a priority solidarity area (ZSP) defined and periodically reviewed by the Interministe-rial Committee for International Cooperation and Development (C1C1D). The ZSP essentially comprises African and Caribbean countries
has nearly 13.000 troops. As ■ 'lie of the five nuclear powers — alongside the United Kingdom, (he United States. Russia and hina — France is ensuring the maintenance of Ils deterrent
new strategic realities, taking into account the European dimension of Its defence, while working towards a total ban on inn tear testing and committing ilvll to arms control and disarmament.
Action at the UN
At the international level. I'rance’s foreign policy can best lx- understood In the context of ns respect (or the goals and principles of the United Nanons. goals and principles which are a sort of replica of ihe Ideals underlying France's republican tradition
Thus, since 1945 France has constantly supported the UN. to which it Is the fourth largest contributor. In 1999. It con-tributed a total ot 377 I million frincs (57.49 million euros) to fh* UN's ordinary' budget and .”10 million francs (89 94 million enroll, to the UN system s specialized orga n iza t Ion s Aided In this role by its status as a permanent member of the Security Council, the supreme I N body Franc • has in particu-lar participated in many UN peac ekeeping operations (in the Middle East. Africa. Cambodia. Ihe former Yugoslavia. French obligatory eontrlbii•
tlons to peat fkee
Don’t wen- 378 mi
157 63 million euros) in 1999
I fench shll as troops serving in (he UN forces in Lebanon, Palestine Western Sahara, Au-
In addition to these foreign policy priorities developed since 1945 — to which must be added the transatlantic ties existing with the United States since the 18th century— France is also determined to contribute to the development of solidarity with other regions. In this regard the Euro-Mediterranean partnership is one of France s highest priorities at a time when the peace process in the Middle East is moving Into a decisive stage for the security.
political stability and economic development of the whole region. At the same time. France is both strengthening Its relations with Asia, a continent currently undergoing economic development, which it is encouraging to play a decisive role in world trade and thus in the evolution of contemporary society. and also stepping up its cooperation with the South American countries.