1. NUCLEAR TESTS NOT UNHEALTHY The French President, Jacques Chirac, claims that decades of controversial nuclear tests in the South Pacific did not give Pacific Islanders cancer. On the eve of his first trip to French Polynesia since ordering the last round of tests in 1995, Mr Chirac told a Tahitian newspaper Les Nouvelles de Tahiti in an interview published last Friday (25 July), that the atomic tests, which sparked riots on the island and drew global outrage, had "no effect on health". "There are no health consequences, either in the short-term or long-term," he told the newspaper. He added that the IAEA experts had concluded in 1998 that detailed radiation surveys were not needed, but that the French government would keep monitoring radiation levels in the area. The 1998 IAEA report claimed France's tests in the South Pacific had left "extremely modest radiation levels", posed no threats to people, and predicted no change in cancer incidence.
A researcher for the Association for the Veterans of Nuclear Tests however estimated last year that the test-site workforce (30,000-40,000 military staff worked at least temporarily at the nuclear sites since the beginning of the tests) had a chance of developing cancer over their lifetime which was twice as high as in France's overall population. The Association demands that France to fund studies about the effects of radiation exposure, and pay for doctor's visits for workers and their families. The French government, he said, should fund studies about the effects of radiation exposure, pay for doctor's visits for workers and their families, and recognize the cancerous effects of exposure to radiation. Under the banner of "Truth and justice for the victims of Mururoa" hundreds of former site employees and about 1000 relatives and supporters were protesting in Papeete on Saturday, and intended to continue protests during Chirac's visit. They were demanding compensation for staff they claim have suffered the effects of radiation, and for families of those who died. Arriving in Papeete, Chirac said "Without Polynesia, France would not be the great power that it is, capable of expressing in the concert of nations an autonomous, independent and respected position". 1. NUCLEAR TESTS NOT UNHEALTHY The French President, Jacques Chirac, claims that decades of controversial nuclear tests in the South Pacific did not give Pacific Islanders cancer. On the eve of his first trip to French Polynesia since ordering the last round of tests in 1995, Mr Chirac told a Tahitian newspaper Les Nouvelles de Tahiti in an interview published last Friday (25 July), that the atomic tests, which sparked riots on the island and drew global outrage, had "no effect on health". "There are no health consequences, either in the short-term or long-term," he told the newspaper. He added that the IAEA experts had concluded in 1998 that detailed radiation surveys were not needed, but that the French government would keep monitoring radiation levels in the area. The 1998 IAEA report claimed France's tests in the South Pacific had left "extremely modest radiation levels", posed no threats to people, and predicted no change in cancer incidence. A researcher for the Association for the Veterans of Nuclear Tests however estimated last year that the test-site workforce (30,000-40,000 military staff worked at least temporarily at the nuclear sites since the beginning of the tests) had a chance of developing cancer over their lifetime which was twice as high as in France's overall population. The Association demands that France to fund studies about the effects of radiation exposure, and pay for doctor's visits for workers and their families. The French government, he said, should fund studies about the effects of radiation exposure, pay for doctor's visits for workers and their families, and recognize the cancerous effects of exposure to radiation, Under the banner of "Truth and justice for the victims of Mururoa" hundreds of former site employees and about 1000 relatives and supporters were protesting in Papeete on Saturday, and intended to continue protests during Chirac's visit. They were demanding compensation for staff they claim have suffered the effects of radiation, and for families of those who died. Arriving in Papeete, Chirac said "Without Polynesia, France would not be the great power that it is, capable of expressing in the concert of nations an autonomous, independent and respected position". France carried out nuclear tests for three decades until 1996 on the uninhabited Mururoa atoll (about 750 miles southeast of Tahiti), detonating at least 123 nuclear weapons in the volcanic rock since 1975. Another 8 were exploded under Fangataufa Atoll, closeby. Mr Chirac ordered the last round of South Pacific tests in 1995, after his first presidential victory. In so doing, Chirac broke a three-year international moratorium on nuclear testing, causing Australia to suspend defence ties with Paris, and spearhead an international campaign against France. But Mr Chirac said the total of 193 nuclear weapons tests done by France had no health effects, reiterating that studies by experts at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had found they posed no threat. The New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, yesterday dismissed Mr Chirac's claim, saying: "My understanding is that the level of cancers reported would be greater than one would expect." 2. KANAKS GET TEARGAS ON CHIRAC'S VISIT TO NEW CALEDONIA Police used tear gas on Saturday 26 July to break up militant pro-independence protestors in New Caledonia during Chirac's visit which began Wednesday. Angry protestors in Kone shouted 'Chirac murderer' as Chirac listened to a welcome speech by a pro-independence leader, Paul Neaouytine. Tear gas canisters were fired by police to disperse the crowd, but wind blew the gas back towards the official ceremony. New Caledonia's mainly Kanak USTKE union decided to strike during Chirac's visit. After Thursday's union-led rally of two-thousand people, they are aiming for a barbecue outside the French high commission. While USTKE has a wide range a grievances, Chirac has told 15,000 people in Noumea that he hopes France and New Caledonia can work together hand in hand in determining the territory's future. Chirac did not mention the 1998 Noumea accord provision on greater autonomy, which provides for a freeze of the electorate, to ensure Kanaks will not be outnumbered by French migrants in future votes. The clause was not implemented, because the constitution has not changed accordingly. Meanwhile, CEO Scot Hand, Inco Ltd. chief of the Goro nickel mining project in New Caledonia, thanked Chirac at a mining conference in Kone for "the supportive attitude of your officials in addressing French participation in providing financial support for the project... in spite of our earlier disappointment, the Goro nickel project is regaining momentum." The Toronto-based Inco Ltd. recently took an after-tax charge of $26 million related to Goro. "I have told people around the world that Goro Nickel is the cornerstone of Inco's future," Hand said. "It is a fundamental and central part of our growth strategy... Nickel from Goro will serve the fast growing markets of Asia, particularly China. We are extremely excited about the potential of that market, but we are more excited about the potential of Goro." Hand said Inco regretted having to suspend construction while conducting a comprehensive review of the projected capital costs. "We were disappointed, as were many people here in New Caledonia, but under the circumstances it was the right thing to do. In the long run, the delay will enable us to meet our objective of having a world-class operation." At a separate meeting in Noumea, Mr Chirac said that New Caledonian census questions about ethnicity were irresponsible and illegal. He said the idea of including references to ethnic origins in an official document, is outrageous, adding that the French republic does not recognise people based on their ethnic origins. 3. CHIRAC ON NORTH KOREA: NO WAR, NO NUKES Chirac emphasised in November 2002 that France continues to attach conditions to the normalization of relations with North Korea, singling out the weapons' issue and human rights. Human rights activists with an interest in North Korea are well organized in France, and their campaign against military intervention with what they see as "the most extraordinary totalitarian dictatorship on the planet'' influences the French government. France's lack of enthusiasm in dealing with North Korea reflects both its desire for an independent foreign policy and domestic pressures. At the G8 meeting in Evian, Chirac said explicitly that the G8 did not support the use of military force against Iran and North Korea. The G-8 resolution saw weapons of mass destruction as the pre-eminent threat to international security, and warned Iran and North Korea about acquiring nuclear weapons. "We have a simple position," Chirac said. "We consider all military action which is not agreed upon by the international community, in particular the (United Nations) Security Council, to be illegitimate and illegal and we've naturally not changed our position." Chirac also said whether it be the Middle East or any other area, "one can wage war alone, but it is more difficult to make peace by one's self." On North Korea, the G-8 statement supported Asian countries, including China, prodding North Korea to comply with its past commitments on nuclear non-proliferation. On Iran, Chirac said "our hope is that, through diplomacy, we can get Iran to accept controls." 4. CHIRAC AND THE MIDDLE-EAST CONNECTION The French-Iraqi connection started after France pulled out of NATO in 1966, and France has been Iraq's best friend in the West. Before the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, France was chief supplier of military equipment to Israel. In fact, France helped Israel build its nuclear reactor at Dimona, supplied Israel with enriched uranium, and actively helped Israel develop nuclear weapons. But just before the Arab-Israeli War, France however abandoned Israel and cultivated the oil-rich Arab nations more, because De Gaulle did believe Israel could defeat the Arabs. As French premier in 1974, Chirac consolidated France's ties with oil-rich Iraq. Chirac called Saddam Hussein "a personal friend" after Chirac and Hussein finalized the agreement for a French-built nuclear reactor near Baghdad; the reactor was later bombed by Israel. By the late 1970s France was second only to the Soviet Union as supplier of military and civilian harware to Iraq,. The trend continued in the 1980s and 1990s, when hundreds of French firms were doing business in Iraq, including Alcatel, Renault, and oil exploration companies who invested an estimated $60 billion. France strongly backed Iraq during its war against Iran with Mirage Fighters, Super Etendard aircraft with Exocet missiles, and sophisticated munitions. The Gulf War of 1991 provided little more than a hiccup in French-Iraqi relations, and French firms were earnt more than any other country from exporting to Iraq under the oil-for-food program. By 1994, France called for a loosening of UN sanctions and along with Russia, attempting to short-circuit UNSCOM at every step. France campaigned for more oil sales from Iraq. When the US and Britain demanded tough controls to ensure the increased oil revenues would not be used to buy weaponry, the French objected saying such controls would undermine "Iraqi sovereignty". From 1997 on, France fought to get UN sanctions lifted entirely. Under intense pressure from France and Russia, the UN eventually loosened restrictions on high-tech equipment, enabling Iraq to buy hardware, which the USA and UK claimed had military applications. 5. CURRENT FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY ON NON-PROLIFERATION France's foreign policy priorities, as stated on 23 September, 1998 at the UN General Assembly by French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, are nuclear non-proliferation, reform of the UN, human rights and Francophony. France desires reinforcing the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation system. Vedrine said "following the nuclear tests in South Asia, of which everyone measures the attendant risks, we must reinforce the anti-proliferation regime and pursue the disarmament process in all its aspects -- nuclear, conventional, chemical and biological... our first aim should be the entry into force as speedily as possible of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty... France, with the United Kingdom, was the first nuclear-weapon State to ratify the treaty and is the only one to have completed the dismantlement of its testing centre." Verdine called upon all states that have not done so, "including India and Pakistan", to adhere to CNTBT, taking note of their announced intention "not to carry out any more nuclear tests.... the nuclear tests in south Asia have given us a resounding reminder that a very serious regional territorial dispute combined, rightly or wrongly, with a sense of insecurity could pay the way for nuclear and ballistic proliferation." Jacques Maillard, a senior official dealing with non-proliferation, has stated that Paris' "main concern is to promote non-proliferation by diplomatic actions." India, Pakistan and Israel "needed to be encouraged to become parties." to the CNTBT. North Korea, he said, is "a country with a suspected nuclear-weapons capability" which could "bargain" for goodies, thus establishing "a dangerous global trend." On the Indo-Pakistan nuclear question, Maillard said France could "not approve" of their nuclear tests; "all nuclear states have shown much restraint, after we stopped testing"; "it is not good news to have nuclear testing by any party in the world". France tries to maintain dialogue with India and Pakistan. France's human rights policy and its nexus with its overall foreign policy is clarified by Charley Causeret, another senior foreign office official. France's view is that "no country can be projected as a US model as far as human rights goes - France accepts that there are different forms". Paris' stance differs, for example, from that of the Scandinavian countries which often "tend to act like preachers". "We feel that no state is perfect; each has to help the other in improving" its human rights record. Such an approach "helps to get off the vicious circle which consists of presenting resolutions at the UN Human Rights Commission condemning one country or the other." "France's position thus represents a kind of boundary line between countries of the North and those of the South. Hence, we want to make the UN Commission on Human Rights a place for exchange of ideas on human rights and to take into account implementation." Causeret claims "Each year, Iran is presented as a country that is a violator of human rights. Each year, the Netherlands and the UK push resolutions against Iran. But France says that if there are resolutions, we have also to take into account the progress made e.g. in the area of women's rights." "It is clear that the position of Iran is not perfect. But why should we insist on the right of women in Iran and not mention the position of women in Saudi Arabia?" France believes that "you cannot separate civil and political rights from economic rights." Generally, he said, developed countries pinpoint civil and political rights, while developing countries point more to economic and social rights. On child prostitution, Causeret declared that it is "not enough to point to the problem." In France's view: "We need legislation to train social workers and magistrates. This is how we can help countries promote human rights." 6. CHIRAC: BACKGROUND ON HIS POLITICAL CAREER Jacques Chirac was born November 29, 1932 in Paris. He graduated from the Institut d'Etudes politiques de Paris in 1954 and the Ecole Nationale d'Adminstration in 1959, specialising in public administration and French politics. He also attended a Harvard Summer School in the USA. A Catholic, he married on March 16, 1956 and has two daughters (one of whom, Claude, recently starred as presidential "aide d'image"", being mentioned in a public scandal about undeclared spending by Chirac of $300,000 during 1992-1995, on 20 lavish trips). At this time, Chirac joined the army and served in Algeria 1956-57. In 1957, he returned to France and studied at the Ecole Nationale d'Administration, which trains high level public servants. His career took off in 1962, when he got a job at the governmental personnel office under de Gaulle's presidency. By 1968, Jacques Chirac was secretary of state for social issues, in charge of employment problems and took part in negotiations with students and striking workers. This activity helped his promotion to Secretary of State for economic and financial issues, over the next several years. In 1974, after being minister for agriculture, Chirac became internal affairs minister. When Valery Giscard d'Estaing became president in April of 1974, Chirac became premier. The same year, he became the secretary-general of the Gaullist Union of Democrats. Chirac resigned as premier in 1976 due to conflicts with Giscard d'Estaing. Soon after, Chirac became president of the Union of Democrats. Between 1977 and 1995, Chirac was also mayor of Paris. In 1979-1980, he served as member of the European Parliament. In 1981, Chirac lost the presidential candicacy to socialist Francois Mitterand, but The Union for Republic and the Union for the French Democracy joined in a coalition, and gained the majority of seats at the National Assembly. Mitterand'government therefore necessitated Gaullist participation, and Chirac was appointed premier. In 1998, Chirac again lost to Mitterand. In May of 1995, however, Chirac was elected French President, seeking to tackle taxation, unemployment, educational reform, and army professionalisation. His idea of reducing the Presidential term of office from seven to five years was popular. Chirac continued Mitterand-type, pro-EU foreign policy. In 1995, Chirac refused to stop nuclear tests, and in 1999, he backed NATO intervention in Yugoslavia. He dislikes ""high society" dinners but enjoys meeting with French (and foreign) artists, writers, architects, actors, musicians, and professors. Sources: smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/27/1059244488623.html cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/07/26/tahiti.nuclear.fallout.ap/index.html cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2003/06/01/101115-cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2003 /06/02/101839- canada.com/news/story.asp?id=E2A585C5-24AC-4215-AC64-english.pravda.ru/polit ics/2002/02/12/26365.html usainreview.com/2_11_Chirac_Connection.htm times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200211/kt2002112116461711360.htm yomari.com/p-review/1998/10/151098/fre.html pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault.php?urlpinaid=8575 France carried out nuclear tests for three decades until 1996 on the uninhabited Mururoa atoll (about 750 miles southeast of Tahiti), detonating at least 123 nuclear weapons in the volcanic rock since 1975. Another 8 were exploded under Fangataufa Atoll, closeby. Mr Chirac ordered the last round of South Pacific tests in 1995, after his first presidential victory. In so doing, Chirac broke a three-year international moratorium on nuclear testing, causing Australia to suspend defence ties with Paris, and spearhead an international campaign against France. But Mr Chirac said the total of 193 nuclear weapons tests done by France had no health effects, reiterating that studies by experts at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had found they posed no threat. The New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, yesterday dismissed Mr Chirac's claim, saying: "My understanding is that the level of cancers reported would be greater than one would expect." 2. KANAKS GET TEARGAS ON CHIRAC'S VISIT TO NEW CALEDONIA Police used tear gas on Saturday 26 July to break up militant pro-independence protestors in New Caledonia during Chirac's visit which began Wednesday. Angry protestors in Kone shouted 'Chirac murderer' as Chirac listened to a welcome speech by a pro-independence leader, Paul Neaouytine. Tear gas canisters were fired by police to disperse the crowd, but wind blew the gas back towards the official ceremony. New Caledonia's mainly Kanak USTKE union decided to strike during Chirac's visit. After Thursday's union-led rally of two-thousand people, they are aiming for a barbecue outside the French high commission. While USTKE has a wide range a grievances, Chirac has told 15,000 people in Noumea that he hopes France and New Caledonia can work together hand in hand in determining the territory's future. Chirac did not mention the 1998 Noumea accord provision on greater autonomy, which provides for a freeze of the electorate, to ensure Kanaks will not be outnumbered by French migrants in future votes. The clause was not implemented, because the constitution has not changed accordingly. Meanwhile, CEO Scot Hand, Inco Ltd. chief of the Goro nickel mining project in New Caledonia, thanked Chirac at a mining conference in Kone for "the supportive attitude of your officials in addressing French participation in providing financial support for the project... in spite of our earlier disappointment, the Goro nickel project is regaining momentum." The Toronto-based Inco Ltd. recently took an after-tax charge of $26 million related to Goro. "I have told people around the world that Goro Nickel is the cornerstone of Inco's future," Hand said. "It is a fundamental and central part of our growth strategy... Nickel from Goro will serve the fast growing markets of Asia, particularly China. We are extremely excited about the potential of that market, but we are more excited about the potential of Goro." Hand said Inco regretted having to suspend construction while conducting a comprehensive review of the projected capital costs. "We were disappointed, as were many people here in New Caledonia, but under the circumstances it was the right thing to do. In the long run, the delay will enable us to meet our objective of having a world-class operation." At a separate meeting in Noumea, Mr Chirac said that New Caledonian census questions about ethnicity were irresponsible and illegal. He said the idea of including references to ethnic origins in an official document, is outrageous, adding that the French republic does not recognise people based on their ethnic origins. 3. CHIRAC ON NORTH KOREA: NO WAR, NO NUKES Chirac emphasised in November 2002 that France continues to attach conditions to the normalization of relations with North Korea, singling out the weapons' issue and human rights. Human rights activists with an interest in North Korea are well organized in France, and their campaign against military intervention with what they see as "the most extraordinary totalitarian dictatorship on the planet'' influences the French government. France's lack of enthusiasm in dealing with North Korea reflects both its desire for an independent foreign policy and domestic pressures. At the G8 meeting in Evian, Chirac said explicitly that the G8 did not support the use of military force against Iran and North Korea. The G-8 resolution saw weapons of mass destruction as the pre-eminent threat to international security, and warned Iran and North Korea about acquiring nuclear weapons. "We have a simple position," Chirac said. "We consider all military action which is not agreed upon by the international community, in particular the (United Nations) Security Council, to be illegitimate and illegal and we've naturally not changed our position." Chirac also said whether it be the Middle East or any other area, "one can wage war alone, but it is more difficult to make peace by one's self." On North Korea, the G-8 statement supported Asian countries, including China, prodding North Korea to comply with its past commitments on nuclear non-proliferation. On Iran, Chirac said "our hope is that, through diplomacy, we can get Iran to accept controls." 4. CHIRAC AND THE MIDDLE-EAST CONNECTION The French-Iraqi connection started after France pulled out of NATO in 1966, and France has been Iraq's best friend in the West. Before the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, France was chief supplier of military equipment to Israel. In fact, France helped Israel build its nuclear reactor at Dimona, supplied Israel with enriched uranium, and actively helped Israel develop nuclear weapons. But just before the Arab-Israeli War, France however abandoned Israel and cultivated the oil-rich Arab nations more, because De Gaulle did believe Israel could defeat the Arabs. As French premier in 1974, Chirac consolidated France's ties with oil-rich Iraq. Chirac called Saddam Hussein "a personal friend" after Chirac and Hussein finalized the agreement for a French-built nuclear reactor near Baghdad; the reactor was later bombed by Israel. By the late 1970s France was second only to the Soviet Union as supplier of military and civilian harware to Iraq,. The trend continued in the 1980s and 1990s, when hundreds of French firms were doing business in Iraq, including Alcatel, Renault, and oil exploration companies who invested an estimated $60 billion. France strongly backed Iraq during its war against Iran with Mirage Fighters, Super Etendard aircraft with Exocet missiles, and sophisticated munitions. The Gulf War of 1991 provided little more than a hiccup in French-Iraqi relations, and French firms were earnt more than any other country from exporting to Iraq under the oil-for-food program. By 1994, France called for a loosening of UN sanctions and along with Russia, attempting to short-circuit UNSCOM at every step. France campaigned for more oil sales from Iraq. When the US and Britain demanded tough controls to ensure the increased oil revenues would not be used to buy weaponry, the French objected saying such controls would undermine "Iraqi sovereignty". From 1997 on, France fought to get UN sanctions lifted entirely. Under intense pressure from France and Russia, the UN eventually loosened restrictions on high-tech equipment, enabling Iraq to buy hardware, which the USA and UK claimed had military applications. 5. CURRENT FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY ON NON-PROLIFERATION France's foreign policy priorities, as stated on 23 September, 1998 at the UN General Assembly by French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, are nuclear non-proliferation, reform of the UN, human rights and Francophony. France desires reinforcing the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation system. Vedrine said "following the nuclear tests in South Asia, of which everyone measures the attendant risks, we must reinforce the anti-proliferation regime and pursue the disarmament process in all its aspects -- nuclear, conventional, chemical and biological... our first aim should be the entry into force as speedily as possible of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty... France, with the United Kingdom, was the first nuclear-weapon State to ratify the treaty and is the only one to have completed the dismantlement of its testing centre." Verdine called upon all states that have not done so, "including India and Pakistan", to adhere to CNTBT, taking note of their announced intention "not to carry out any more nuclear tests.... the nuclear tests in south Asia have given us a resounding reminder that a very serious regional territorial dispute combined, rightly or wrongly, with a sense of insecurity could pay the way for nuclear and ballistic proliferation." Jacques Maillard, a senior official dealing with non-proliferation, has stated that Paris' "main concern is to promote non-proliferation by diplomatic actions." India, Pakistan and Israel "needed to be encouraged to become parties." to the CNTBT. North Korea, he said, is "a country with a suspected nuclear-weapons capability" which could "bargain" for goodies, thus establishing "a dangerous global trend." On the Indo-Pakistan nuclear question, Maillard said France could "not approve" of their nuclear tests; "all nuclear states have shown much restraint, after we stopped testing"; "it is not good news to have nuclear testing by any party in the world". France tries to maintain dialogue with India and Pakistan. France's human rights policy and its nexus with its overall foreign policy is clarified by Charley Causeret, another senior foreign office official. France's view is that "no country can be projected as a US model as far as human rights goes - France accepts that there are different forms". Paris' stance differs, for example, from that of the Scandinavian countries which often "tend to act like preachers". "We feel that no state is perfect; each has to help the other in improving" its human rights record. Such an approach "helps to get off the vicious circle which consists of presenting resolutions at the UN Human Rights Commission condemning one country or the other." "France's position thus represents a kind of boundary line between countries of the North and those of the South. Hence, we want to make the UN Commission on Human Rights a place for exchange of ideas on human rights and to take into account implementation." Causeret claims "Each year, Iran is presented as a country that is a violator of human rights. Each year, the Netherlands and the UK push resolutions against Iran. But France says that if there are resolutions, we have also to take into account the progress made e.g. in the area of women's rights." "It is clear that the position of Iran is not perfect. But why should we insist on the right of women in Iran and not mention the position of women in Saudi Arabia?" France believes that "you cannot separate civil and political rights from economic rights." Generally, he said, developed countries pinpoint civil and political rights, while developing countries point more to economic and social rights. On child prostitution, Causeret declared that it is "not enough to point to the problem." In France's view: "We need legislation to train social workers and magistrates. This is how we can help countries promote human rights." 6. CHIRAC: BACKGROUND ON HIS POLITICAL CAREER Jacques Chirac was born November 29, 1932 in Paris. He graduated from the Institut d'Etudes politiques de Paris in 1954 and the Ecole Nationale d'Adminstration in 1959, specialising in public administration and French politics. He also attended a Harvard Summer School in the USA. A Catholic, he married on March 16, 1956 and has two daughters (one of whom, Claude, recently starred as presidential "aide d'image"", being mentioned in a public scandal about undeclared spending by Chirac of $300,000 during 1992-1995, on 20 lavish trips). At this time, Chirac joined the army and served in Algeria 1956-57. In 1957, he returned to France and studied at the Ecole Nationale d'Administration, which trains high level public servants. His career took off in 1962, when he got a job at the governmental personnel office under de Gaulle's presidency. By 1968, Jacques Chirac was secretary of state for social issues, in charge of employment problems and took part in negotiations with students and striking workers. This activity helped his promotion to Secretary of State for economic and financial issues, over the next several years. In 1974, after being minister for agriculture, Chirac became internal affairs minister. When Valery Giscard d'Estaing became president in April of 1974, Chirac became premier. The same year, he became the secretary-general of the Gaullist Union of Democrats. Chirac resigned as premier in 1976 due to conflicts with Giscard d'Estaing. Soon after, Chirac became president of the Union of Democrats. Between 1977 and 1995, Chirac was also mayor of Paris. In 1979-1980, he served as member of the European Parliament. In 1981, Chirac lost the presidential candicacy to socialist Francois Mitterand, but The Union for Republic and the Union for the French Democracy joined in a coalition, and gained the majority of seats at the National Assembly. Mitterand'government therefore necessitated Gaullist participation, and Chirac was appointed premier. In 1998, Chirac again lost to Mitterand. In May of 1995, however, Chirac was elected French President, seeking to tackle taxation, unemployment, educational reform, and army professionalisation. His idea of reducing the Presidential term of office from seven to five years was popular. Chirac continued Mitterand-type, pro-EU foreign policy. In 1995, Chirac refused to stop nuclear tests, and in 1999, he backed NATO intervention in Yugoslavia. He dislikes ""high society" dinners but enjoys meeting with French (and foreign) artists, writers, architects, actors, musicians, and professors. Sources: smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/27/1059244488623.html cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/07/26/tahiti.nuclear.fallout.ap/index.html cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2003/06/01/101115-cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2003 /06/02/101839- canada.com/news/story.asp?id=E2A585C5-24AC-4215-AC64-english.pravda.ru/polit ics/2002/02/12/26365.html usainreview.com/2_11_Chirac_Connection.htm times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200211/kt2002112116461711360.htm yomari.com/p-review/1998/10/151098/fre.html pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault.php?urlpinaid=8575
