Meeting with the new French President, Nicolas Sarkozy
“The rain was falling heavily as the Chief of State, Omar Bongo Ondimba, entered The Elysée Palace. On the threshold, a man was waiting for him. It was Nicolas Sarkozy, the French Chief of State. The meeting had the double merit of taking place, firstly, just a few days after Gabon signed a 3-year Stand-By Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund. In negotiations with the Paris Club leading up to this arrangement, Nicolas Sarkozy, then Finance Minister in the Raffarin Government, was personally involved. Secondly, the meeting took place just one week after Nicolas Sarkozy's official investiture as President. As France is our principal economic partner, it goes without saying that the economy was the focus of attention of the two Chiefs of State.
The private meeting at the Elysée Palace was an opportunity for President Omar Bongo Ondimba and President Nicolas Sarkozy to secure the links between the various lines of the legendary Franco Gabonese cooperation and the new look diplomacy extolled by the new French leader. Nicolas Sarkozy has always been confident that he could count on Chief of State Omar Bongo’s experience and in-depth knowledge of African issues. Today, more than ever, the advice of the senior President serves as a handbook, particularly at a time when the Elysée is planning a visit to Africa for the new French President.”
Un nouveau partenariat entre l'entreprise italienne Carlo Tassara et le Gabon pourrait naître dans le domaine du nickel.
Romain Zalesqui, administrateur délégué de l'entreprise italienne Carlo Tassara a été introduit dans le Cabinet de travail du Chef de l'Etat à Paris par l'Administrateur Directeur Général de Comilog, Marcel Abéké. La rencontre a eu lieu en présence du Ministre des Mines, Richard Auguste Onouviet et de l'ambassadeur représentant en France, Jean-Marie Adze, a permis de discuter diversification de l'économie gabonaise.
L'entreprise italienne Carlo Tassara entretient un partenariat avec le Gabon dans le secteur du manganèse. La présence du Nickel dans nos sous-sols ne laisse pas indifférent Romain Zalesqui.
Tout l'enjeu de cette rencontre a été d'informer l'homme européen de l'existence d'autres minerais en plus du manganèse. Un nouveau partenariat entre l'entreprise italienne et le Gabon pourrait naître dans le domaine du nickel.
The principal lines of cooperation related to Gabonese development and the question of visas
""One of the major stakes of President Bongo’s visit to Paris is to define, with the French authorities, the place of Franco Gabonese cooperation in the new look diplomacy extolled by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
With Brice Hortefeux, the French Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Cooperative Development, the President of the Republic discussed the principal lines of cooperation related to our country’s development, before broaching the question of visas.
The French Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Cooperative Development said that French cooperation is exemplary and must be maintained. Brice Hortefeux has been involved in developing cooperation between Paris and Libreville since last year. As a member of the Villepin government, Mr Hortefeux was delegate minister for local governments."
Negotiating Gabon’s debt
“Bernard Kouchner, the current leader of French diplomacy, confirmed to the senior African leader the French government’s double ambition, to pursue and further strengthen relations between France and Gabon.
This meeting took place a few days after the signing of the 3-year Standby Arrangement between the Minister of the Economy and Finance and the International Monetary Fund. We are well aware that this agreement opens the way to negotiations in favour of the re-scheduling of our debt.
At Bercy, Eric Woerth, French Budget Minister and Jean-Louis Borloo, Finance Minister, both stated their intention to look somewhat kindly on the Gabon file to ensure an outcome acceptable to the two heads of state, Omar Bongo and Nicolas Sarkozy. It should be said that France is the creditor to whom Gabon owes more than 55% of its debt."
Diversification of Gabon’s economy and sustainable planning
"The meeting with Alain Juppé, then number 2 in the Fillon Government, allowed the President of the Republic to discuss issues related to the diversification of our economy with the Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development.
Concerning the environment and sustainable planning, Omar Bongo has created 13 National Parks. There are very few French economic operators in this sector. The subject was the focus of discussions between The French Minister of State and President Omar Bongo Ondimba.
Alain Juppé promised action in this sector."
Report on the President’s visit to Paris.
"Claude Guéant went to report on the President’s interviews with members of the Fillon Government. These contacts were of such importance that they are understood to be submitted for the assessment of the French President. Nicolas Sarkozy proposes to provide tentative solutions to certain issues, before July 14th. Among the issues concerned is the question of Gabon‘s debt, a subject well-known to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who in 2004, then Minister for Finance, opened the doors of the Paris Club to Gabon, which had recently been rendered feasible by assemblies of the International Monetary Fund.
The 3-year Standby Arrangement signed with the IMF opens the way to negotiations for re-scheduling our debt. Other essential lines of cooperation: emigration, with the question of visas, then sustainable planning, with the valorisation of the National parks created by President Omar Bongo Ondimba."
