France recognises Ravalomanana

2002-07-03 14:38

Antananarivo - The French embassy described Madagascar's Marc Ravalomanana on Wednesday as "President of the Republic", in effect recognising his disputed claim to be head of state of the Indian Ocean island.

A communique issued by the French embassy, detailing four aid agreements signed by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and Ravalomanana's administration, said:

"The first of these projects... concerns the development of Antananarivo, a project in which the President of the Republic, in his former capacity as mayor of the capital, has always shown great interest."

Ravalomanana, the former mayor of Antananarivo, has been fighting for the presidency against veteran ruler Didier Ratsiraka since disputed December elections.

The United States was the first world power to recognise Ravalomanana, a millionaire businessman, as legal president last week.

Villepin jointly signed the four accords with Ravalomanana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Marcel Ranjeva.

"If I am here today in Madagascar it is to express personally to the Madagascan people and all of those responsible for national reconciliation the friendship, solidarity and loyalty of France," Villepin said afterwards.

Ranjeva said: "He (Villepin) is the first minister from a foreign government to come here officially and sign an agreement. To me that's a big symbol."

Analysts say it is only a matter of time before Ravalomanana is fully in charge of the island of 16 million people.

Former colonial power France had posed a problem for Ravalomanana by backing a call made last month by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) for fresh elections.

The call was supported by Ratsiraka, who still claims to be president, as it enabled him to keep alive his power struggle with Ravalomanana.

- Reuters