Saturday, November 27, 2004
Evil French troops acting unilaterally mired in a new Vietnam . . .
I love it when people assault the French military.
Cardinal Agre-- the Archbishop of Abidjan, the capital city that has been the site of vicious fighting between local troops and French soldiers in recent weeks-- has charged that the French military presence is exacerbating an internal conflict. The cardinal has also charged French troops with atrocities-- a charge that the French heatedly deny.
In Rome, where he was attending a meeting of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Agre told the press that the bishops of Ivory Coast, in issuing a public statement sharply critical of French involvement, had sought to calm the conflict rather than add to the tensions. The Church, he said, always wants to further the cause of peace in the former French colony.
Cardinal Agre emphasized that he had not traveled to Rome on an emergency diplomatic mission. "No one sent me to Rome," he said. Rather, he was making a trip planned long ago, to participate in the Vatican meeting. Although he did arrange a private meeting with Pope John Paul soon after his arrival in Rome, the African prelate said that he spoke with the Pontiff as "a brother, rather than a boss." He did not disclose the substance of his conversation with the Holy Father. The cardinal spoke with reporters alongside the ambassador from Ivory Coast to the Holy See, Benjamin Konan Kouane.
The cardinal said that he still regrets the French retaliation that occurred after an attack on French nationals living in Abidjan. He said that he would encourage all parties involved in the conflict to negotiate their differences rather than continue armed struggle. Recognizing that many French businessmen had fled the country after the outbreak of ethnic violence, he encouraged them to plan their return as calm is restored.
Cardinal Agre denied that there is great tension between the Muslims of Ivory Coast, who constitute about 38 percent of the population, and the Christians who make up 28 percent. In fact, he suggested that the perception of such a conflict is caused by "prejudices that are unfortunately inflamed by the French press." While the Muslim population is located primarily in the north of the country, and the Christians in the south, there is no major geographical divide, he said. "We are all united in wanting peace to return to the country," the cardinal said.
Cardinal Agre-- the Archbishop of Abidjan, the capital city that has been the site of vicious fighting between local troops and French soldiers in recent weeks-- has charged that the French military presence is exacerbating an internal conflict. The cardinal has also charged French troops with atrocities-- a charge that the French heatedly deny.
In Rome, where he was attending a meeting of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Agre told the press that the bishops of Ivory Coast, in issuing a public statement sharply critical of French involvement, had sought to calm the conflict rather than add to the tensions. The Church, he said, always wants to further the cause of peace in the former French colony.
Cardinal Agre emphasized that he had not traveled to Rome on an emergency diplomatic mission. "No one sent me to Rome," he said. Rather, he was making a trip planned long ago, to participate in the Vatican meeting. Although he did arrange a private meeting with Pope John Paul soon after his arrival in Rome, the African prelate said that he spoke with the Pontiff as "a brother, rather than a boss." He did not disclose the substance of his conversation with the Holy Father. The cardinal spoke with reporters alongside the ambassador from Ivory Coast to the Holy See, Benjamin Konan Kouane.
The cardinal said that he still regrets the French retaliation that occurred after an attack on French nationals living in Abidjan. He said that he would encourage all parties involved in the conflict to negotiate their differences rather than continue armed struggle. Recognizing that many French businessmen had fled the country after the outbreak of ethnic violence, he encouraged them to plan their return as calm is restored.
Cardinal Agre denied that there is great tension between the Muslims of Ivory Coast, who constitute about 38 percent of the population, and the Christians who make up 28 percent. In fact, he suggested that the perception of such a conflict is caused by "prejudices that are unfortunately inflamed by the French press." While the Muslim population is located primarily in the north of the country, and the Christians in the south, there is no major geographical divide, he said. "We are all united in wanting peace to return to the country," the cardinal said.
