France


 * National Institute for Statistics and Economic Stuides** -- http://www.insee.fr/en/home/home_page.asp

Chadian rebels in capital, French troops evacuate citizens and foreigners http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/02/02/news/OUKWD-UK-CHAD-REBELS.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/04/AR2008020400251.html

Complete Basic Facts About France https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html

French Stance on Human Rights Issues: > [|http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1028634]
 * (IHT - Darfur) China faces Olympic boycott call, tough French stance, over Darfur[|> http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/21/europe/EU-GEN-France-Darfur-Olympics.php]
 * (Economist - China & Russia) Overview of Sarkozy's foreign policy; human rights focus on wrongdoings of China & Russia

France Stance on Iraq Conflict:
 * (New York Times - Sarkozy's Position - 9/24/2007) [Turning to the fate of Iraq, Mr. Sarkozy made plain that the country (Iraq) must remain intact, and said it would stand a better chance of developing without a foreign military presence. Yet he stated that France itself, which opposed the United States-led invasion in 2003 and has declined to send police or military trainers there, would offer no initiatives beyond the recent trip to Baghdad by Mr. Kouchner. “France has no mission to go into Iraq,” Mr. Sarkozy said.] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/world/europe/24sarkozy.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1
 * (New York Times - Sarkozy's Position - Earlier Statement - 3/1/2007) [Unveiling his foreign policy on Wednesday, Mr. Sarkozy, who is the interior minister and head of the governing party, the Union for a Popular Movement, called the American-led invasion of Iraq a “historic mistake” and thanked President [|Jacques Chirac] for his “lucidity” in keeping [|France] out of it. But Mr. Sarkozy was vague about what the United States should do in Iraq. He warned that withdrawing American troops too soon would “lead to chaos” but said avoiding a withdrawal would lead the Iraqis to “react with more violence, and that would benefit the terrorists.”] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/world/europe/01france.html
 * (New York Times - Iraq Visit - 8/20/2007) Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister, visited Iraq late August 2007, in one of the first high level visits since 2003. [A ministry statement said Mr. Kouchner was in Baghdad “to express a French message of solidarity with the Iraqi people and to listen to the representatives of all communities.” In 2003, President [|Jacques Chirac] of [|France] led international opposition to the Iraq war and was vocal in his criticism of United States policy, straining relations with Washington. His successor, [|Nicolas Sarkozy], has sought to rebuild relations since his election as president in May.] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/world/middleeast/20iraq.html
 * (Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network - 2/4/2008) [In a remarkable French stand, visiting President Nicolas Sarkozy to Romania stressed the necessity of finding means to accelerate the takeover of Iraqi authorities. In an interview with a Romanian Newspaper, Sarkozy noted that world countries are working to withdraw from Iraq underling the importance of stability in Iraq and the region. He explained that it is not a matter of retracing history saying that the aim is to work on reconstructing a Democratic, stable, prosperous and self ruling Iraq.] [|Link to Site]

France Military Role?:
 * (BBC - Canada Asking France for troops to Afghanistan) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7234398.stm
 * (BBC - France Monitoring Chad) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7229575.stm
 * (BBC - France Warning Chad Rebels) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7227840.stm

[|BBC France Country Profile] Chadian rebels in capital, French troops evacuate citizens and foreigners

> France has a unitary semi-presidential republic. > European Union > ** Raised importance of security, protecting the environment, integration of immigrants, fighting poverty, lowering unemployment, etc. > > ** Colonial struggles for independence, both world wars, etc. ( willingness to engage directly in social and political action) > ** Ethnicities: 8% of country is foreign-born; most are of European descent, but also Arabs, Africans, and South Asians > Religions: 51% Catholic; 31% Agnostic/Atheist > Languages: French > > ** Western Europe > ** Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco, Spain, Italy, Andorra (Metropolitan France) > > ** > > ** > ** Major Exports: machinery and transportation equipment, aricraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages >
 * ** What sort of government does your country have? **
 * ** What types of ideologies (political, religious or other) influence your country’s government? **
 * ** Which domestic issues might influence your country’s foreign policy?
 * ** What are some major events in your country’s history? Why are they important?
 * ** Which ethnicities, religions and languages can be found in your country?
 * ** Where is your country located and how does its geography affect its political relationships?
 * ** Which countries share a border with your country?
 * ** Which countries are considered allies of your country?
 * ** Which countries are considered enemies of your country?
 * ** What are the characteristics of your country’s economy?

> ** US$1.871 trillion (7th) ; per capita US $30,100 (20th) > ** Founding nation (1945) > ** NATO, G8 > ** European Union > > ** OECD, WTO
 * ** What is your country’s gross domestic product (GDP)? How does this compare to other countries in the world?
 * ** When did your country become a member of the UN?
 * ** Does your country belong to any [|intergovernmental organizations] outside the UN system such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?
 * ** Does your country belong to any regional organizations such as the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU) or the Organization of American States (OAS)?
 * ** Does your country belong to any trade organizations or agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)?