NewsWhore
11-19-2009, 05:20 PM
French International Development and Francophonie Minister Alain Joyandet is in Santo Domingo to coordinate President Leonel Fernandez' state visit to France, where he will meet his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy. Joyandet says that a Dominican President has not had a face-to-face meeting with a French President in 10 years. On the agenda are discussing business deals, such as the Santo Domingo metro, and Haitian-Dominican issues.
He told Clave newspaper, "Of course it is in the DR's interest that Haiti should develop. It is very difficult to resolve the migration problem when two neighboring countries have such different development levels. It is possible to help the least developed to develop - that's what happened in Europe. He said that, "50 years ago the Italians, Spanish and Portuguese used to migrate to France looking for work. Now they are developed countries and migration is very low".
He said that the French International Development Agency initiatives in the DR have been strengthened. "This country is in a period of expansion making it normal to consolidate our diplomatic relationship from state to state. The timing is right for the two Presidents to meet," he said.
He spoke of efforts to combat drug trafficking, and mentioned the presence of French companies working on major projects in the DR such as the Santo Domingo Metro. President Leonel Fernandez is pushing for the second line of the metro as a national priority for public funds and international loans. This could mean another large purchase of French technology and equipment.
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr (http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
He told Clave newspaper, "Of course it is in the DR's interest that Haiti should develop. It is very difficult to resolve the migration problem when two neighboring countries have such different development levels. It is possible to help the least developed to develop - that's what happened in Europe. He said that, "50 years ago the Italians, Spanish and Portuguese used to migrate to France looking for work. Now they are developed countries and migration is very low".
He said that the French International Development Agency initiatives in the DR have been strengthened. "This country is in a period of expansion making it normal to consolidate our diplomatic relationship from state to state. The timing is right for the two Presidents to meet," he said.
He spoke of efforts to combat drug trafficking, and mentioned the presence of French companies working on major projects in the DR such as the Santo Domingo Metro. President Leonel Fernandez is pushing for the second line of the metro as a national priority for public funds and international loans. This could mean another large purchase of French technology and equipment.
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr (http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)