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Subject: Question about French Territories
The Lizard King    10/26/2006 12:45:32 PM
What is France's most prized terriorty? (Aside from France of course.)
 
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french stratege       10/28/2006 10:26:56 PM
A very good question but difficult to answer.I put apart Corsica which is close to French metropolitan territory.
On a economical point of view and strategic one, I would put New Caledonia above because of its huge ressources in nickel (it let France to be third world producer of this strategic metal) and its position in Pacific and Asia.
Then it is difficult to choose:
La Réunion is also very important on a strategic point of view because well located in Indian ocean even it do not have huge ressources (but populated).
Equally Guyana is the biggest territory  (like Belgium) and have our space port for Ariane.
Those 3 are clearly the most important to keep I think.
However on a sentimental point of view, Guadalupe and Martinique or Polynesia matter because they are touristic and most french people go there for holidays when they can afford it.
Still 2 million people live in these territories...Sun never sets on French Republic!
Other territories are not really populated and lack of interest (Saint pierrre et Miquelon, Iles Kergekelen, Crozet, Cliperton, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Paul etc..) unless we found huge ressources a part fishing ressources (but no recent propection until now).
Strangely we did not have kept any territory in Africa while we could have done it: we gave Djibouti independance while a strategic location and while they did not request it.The reason was to not appear anymore as a colonialist power in Africa (while we are still in a way).
 
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Claymore       10/29/2006 1:56:05 AM
Why do French incorrectly try to claim America is an imperial power when France still controlls and exerts huge ecomonic influence over many places across the globe?
 
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jean       10/29/2006 3:46:03 PM

Why do French incorrectly try to claim America is an imperial power when France still controlls and exerts huge ecomonic influence over many places across the globe?

claymore: every time , other peoples wanted to leave the "french union" , either there was a war ( viet-nam, algeria) , or it was done by referendum,  peacefully.
Nowadays those peoples want to stay french , altough there are some minority movements for independence. Our "empire" is so far away now....
So you can't speak now about an "imperial" power. UK also kept some isles all over the world., but less than the french i think.

Why do we treasure these territories ?? :

I think all the islands are highly important with the "exclusive economic zone " ( marine zones) that sets france in the second position in the world : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_Economic_Zone
For example the french polynesia (tahiti) is almost as large as the complete EU.
Guyana for gold bonanza and space researchs, ans also for illegal aliens from brazil...
Carribeans , la reunion , for tourism
mayotte ....for nothing ?
clipperton to annoy the mexicans
saint pierre et miquelon to annoy the canadians. No fishing or alcohol prohibition trades anymore. ( ?)
Nouvelle caledonie for nickel and to annoy the australians
wallis et futuna to annoy the NZ.
terres australes ( south hemisphere) , terre adelie ( south pole ) , for research.
Corsica ....(for Napoleon ? ) ,  tourism.
 
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Claymore       10/29/2006 4:45:20 PM
I have no problem with you guys having those territories, just don't Bash the US for the stuff it has fought ahrd to protect.
 
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Francois       10/29/2006 8:44:32 PM

I have no problem with you guys having those territories, just don't Bash the US for the stuff it has fought ahrd to protect.
Too much hate in your statement Claim-more.
I don't like you and your stupid comments.
You don't have the gut of a winner, never will, obviously.
 
Cheers.
 
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TAC II       10/29/2006 9:02:10 PM

About that base in Djibouti.

Are there any limitations on its use?

Can it be expanded?

Any risk of the right to use it may be taken away?
 
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Danton74       10/29/2006 9:22:56 PM


About that base in Djibouti.

Are there any limitations on its use?

Can it be expanded?

Any risk of the right to use it may be taken away?
In order of questions

None that I'm aware of.

Yes, the djiboutians are a "bridging" nation - a moderate government that maintains very good links with France and the EU, and the US via the France/US cooperation there.

I don't believe that there has been a need but since the base has a large and very real impact on the local economy I don't think there'd be great resistance to it being expanded and thereby bringing more hard currency in to the locale.

The Djiboutians appear to be happy to host the base indiffinitely.
 
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TAC II       10/29/2006 9:25:08 PM

Thanks. ;)
 
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Francois       10/29/2006 10:00:39 PM
It is even worse then that.
Whitout the French presence there, the economy would collaps in days, and the country would disapear in the surround conflicts.
The French presence is a guarding to both the health and the survivance.
 
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