Chirac

In an exclusive interview with The Nation at the Elysee Palace, President Chirac he hailed the similarities and dynamism of both countries and touched of a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues.

He also discussed being granted an audience with HM the King on two previous occasions. And while he welcomed the Thai bid for the position of the UN Secretary General, he was non-committal about who his country would support.

During his two-day official visit, Chirac will hold discussions with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to strengthen bilateral relations, especially ways to promote two-way trade and increase French investment here. Two-way trade increased 35 per cent in the first half of last year, and France was Thailand’s third largest European investor, with outlays here totalling more than US$520 million (Bt20.43 billion).

More than 40 business executives representing major French companies will accompany Chirac. He said his government would try to double the number of French firms investing in Thailand, which totals 350, over the next few years.

Chirac will also address the Thai-French business community on Saturday before he proceeds to India. He is scheduled to hold a press conference on the same evening.

The president spoke at length about Thai culture and history and how this made Thailand’s relationship with France so unique. Thailand and France established diplomatic relations in 1685. Chirac said Thailand had a natural calling, given its political weight and geographical situation, to take a role as a key player in terms of Europe’s - and in particular France’s - political relationship with Asia.

Chirac noted that France was Thailand’s second largest economic partner in Europe and he would like to see stronger economic ties develop. “It is very important for France to have stable and warm political relations with such a country, which is at the very heart of the development of Asia”.

With reference to being granted an audience with HM the King on two previous occasions, Chirac said he initially met the King briefly when he was young, then again 15 years ago when he was the mayor of Paris.

“We had an extremely interesting discussion about farming - stockbreeding in particular. He is a great expert in the field of farming and other fields.” The King had displayed an expert awareness of the problems of stockbreeding and during his visit His Majesty had shown him around the farm, which boasts a number of top breeds of cattle.

In another historical link, King Prachathiphok (Rama VII) and the former French president Charles de Gaulle attended the same military, Ecole Superieure de Guerre (the French War College).

When asked about Thailand’s culture and history, Chirac spoke passionately and at length. “I have always had a keen interest in and a lot of admiration for the art and culture of Thailand,” the president said.

He used the term “art de vivre” to describe the vibrancy apparent in both the Thai and French way of life. He had found Thai society both pleasant and welcoming. “The people you meet are warm and open. As you walk around Bangkok, one is struck by the harmony between modernity and tradition,” he said.

Chirac said the economic rise of China was one of the most important phenomena of our time. “It is up to us to discover ways of taking advantage of this trend to build a harmonious, multi-polar world.”

He pointed out that as a UN Security Council member, China participated actively in international peace and security efforts as well as helping to combat the dangers from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

When asked to assess the Thai bid for the UN top job, the president said it was perfectly legitimate for Thailand to put forward a candidate. He said Dr Surakiart Sathirathai was an experienced and much respected man. When the time comes, France would discuss the choice with its partners.

“This choice will be made bearing in mind that the successor to Kofi Annan must be a name which unites the international community and he or she must possess all the skills and authority required to satisfactorily carry out this important function – as well as be able to express themselves and work in both French and English,” he said.

Chirac is also expected to discuss France’s air-ticket tax initiative, which would enable developing countries to receive a fixed amount of assistance for long-term development and the fight against malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids.

Full text of interview on Special page tomorrow.

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation

Paris