France tries to overcome troubled past in Pacific

Jacques Chirac

PARIS - President Jacques Chirac acknowledged France's troubled past relations with the South Pacific today, but said a new chapter of regional cooperation had been opened.

Speaking after a summit of South Pacific countries in Paris, his comments reflected France's efforts to overcome the resentment caused by past nuclear tests at Mururoa atoll in Polynesia.

"It's true. There were periods where our interests did not converge. There were periods where, for reasons I don't have to go into, New Zealand and Australia had things to hold against France," Chirac told a news conference.

Today's talks dealt with issues ranging from climate change and fishing rights to cultural preservation.

Last week Chirac opened a new museum dedicated to tribal arts, the Musee du Quai Branly, a personal project of the president's which includes many works from the South Pacific.

"The past is one thing but I can tell you that the future is about real hand-in-hand cooperation between our countries for the benefit of the whole region," Chirac said.

France, which has territories in French Polynesia and New Caledonia, has been at pains to mend relations with South Pacific countries after the turmoil caused when Chirac ordered a resumption of nuclear tests at Mururoa in 1995.

That controversy came just a decade after another bitter diplomatic row when French spies sank the Greenpeace anti-nuclear protest ship Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand's Auckland harbour, killing a crew member.

"France's attitude has completely changed in the way they deal with the Pacific islands," Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare said. "I think France has got a good standing in the Pacific," he said.

Australia, the region's big power, snubbed the first "France-Oceania" summit in Tahiti in 2003 but Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was in Paris today.

Chirac, a firm opponent of the US-led war in Iraq in which Australia played a part, praised Canberra's role in trying to restore peace to East Timor.

"In this matter, France is totally on the same wavelength as Australia and ready to support whatever Australia, which is acting with notable competence, wishes or does," he said.

- REUTERS