The Hindu : French diplomats up in arms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 03, 2003

International

International

French diplomats up in arms

By Vaiju Naravane

Paris dec. 2. "Yes, diplomacy is war by other means. But in this case diplomacy has clearly failed and we are taking recourse to conventional weapons such as strikes and work stoppages," a French diplomat who requested anonymity told The Hindu in Paris today.

He was referring not to the hostilities in Iraq or the tense situation in the Ivory Coast where France has deployed peacekeeping forces but of the French Foreign Ministry where diplomats have decided to strike work to protest against massive budget cuts that have left many services crippled.

"Things have got so bad that for three days some of our printers and photocopiers had no paper. The Secretaries were asked to bring paper from home. Already we are overloaded with work, our offices are small and cramped but we have put up with all that. The latest wave of cuts is going to cripple out work," the official said. Attendance at foreign missions varied from country to country but in several embassies around the world including those in Italy and America 90 per cent of the staff stayed away from work. In Islamabad, the embassy and consulate were both shut, as was the cultural centre in Damascus. In Beijing, most diplomats were on strike, but stayed at work to coordinate the visits of two government Ministers.

"In practically all our missions as well as here in the central administration the strike movement has been followed, but to varying degrees," said a Ministry spokesman.

From its lavish 19th century palace on the Quai d'Orsay, the Foreign Ministry oversees an international network second only to that of the U.S. In addition to 154 embassies there are 98 consulates, and nearly 500 cultural offices and French-language schools.

The six unions behind the strike complain of stringent financial cutbacks, with cultural programmes axed, allowances and bonuses pared to a minimum and basic maintenance work at the Ministry and foreign embassies ignored. Many diplomats have criticised the Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, whose penchant for foreign travel with a retinue of diplomats has made huge holes in the Ministry's budget.

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