Angola in trafficking saga
2004-03-29 20:32
Luanda - A billionaire French businessman at the centre of an investigation into arms trafficking to Angola denied breaking the law and said claims that Angola's president is corrupt are an attempt to destabilise the Southwest African country.
Pierre Falcone, suspected by French investigators of paying illicit commissions on African deals to the eldest son of late French President Francois Mitterrand, said in an interview broadcast on Monday on state radio Radio Nacional de Angola that he had no business dealings with the son, Jean-Christophe Mitterrand.
Falcone also said he was not working on behalf of the French authorities, who have sought strong ties with oil-rich Angola.
"I have never worked as an agent or employee of the French government, neither directly nor indirectly," Falcone said in the interview, which RNA said was taped last Friday.
He said Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, who advised his father on African affairs from 1986-92, was "a personal friend."
The French investigation centres on the sale of $500m in arms to Angola. Mitterrand is alleged to have received $1.8m between 1993 and 1998 - in the midst of Angola's civil war - from Falcone, who allegedly acted as a weapons purchaser for the Angolan armed forces. The sale was illegal because it lacked a license from the French government.
Falcone told RNA he had respected international law in selling arms to the Angolan government, which was fighting Jonas Savimbi's Unita rebel group. The war ended in 2002.
"No commissions were paid. There was no corruption. There was no arms trafficking," Falcone said.
International human rights groups have accused President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of profiting from murky black market dealings in weapons during the war. Dos Santos had denied the allegations.
Falcone said Dos Santos was not involved in the arms sales.
Angola last year granted Falcone a diplomatic passport and a job in its foreign ministry, providing him with diplomatic immunity in France where investigations are continuing.
- SAPA