(Jerusalem Post)- Michael Freund When it comes to France's own "occupied territories," Chirac and his government are decidedly unwilling to make concessions. In Corsica, where separatist violence has been going on for three decades, Chirac's government has agreed to grant the Corsicans some limited elements of autonomy, but has stubbornly refused to yield control over the territory. Then there are the Basques, who long to establish their own state in the area of the Pyrenees, covering parts of northeastern Spain and southwestern France. Paris has sought to repress the Basque cause, intensifying cooperation with Spanish police in an effort to thwart Basque independence.
2003-02-14 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive