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Visit to Senegal statements made by M. Nicolas SARKOZY, President of the Republic, during his joint press conférence with M. Abdoulaye WADE, President of Senegal - excerpts -

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Dakar, 26 July 2007

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IMMIGRATION

Q. – My question is for the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. Here, in Senegal, when people talk about Nicolas Sarkozy they immediately think of the charter flights. Here, every month thousands of Senegalese leave Senegal by boat, desperately trying to reach France. What do you say to these young people? Is the anti-immigration legislation going to become tougher?

THE PRESIDENT – (···) Do you know what percentage of Senegalese visa applications France accepted in 2006? Nearly 83%. Perhaps you could have put the same question another way by welcoming the 83% of visas which are granted, since I'm not sure whether every country in the world does as much as France. In 2004, it was barely more than 60%. That's a first comment and a first figure which I invite you to ponder.

Moreover, President Wade and I share the same concern: the day when all your country's elite are in Europe, who will undertake the development here in Africa? When you think that there are more Beninese doctors in France than Benin. Who can be satisfied with that? That's not how Africans' health is going to be improved. Do you know how many Senegalese students we have in France as I speak? Nearly 10,000. In our universities, there are more [foreign] students of Senegalese nationality than of any other. But what would be the point of keeping them for ourselves? These qualified students must return to Senegal. Moreover, President Wade and I have improved the system with the "skills and talents” residence permit. To my mind, education and training aren't simply about university studies, they are also about the right to a first job.

I'd like to say forcefully that France has nothing to be ashamed of, that she is very happy and will go on doing all this. In 2006, we signed, under President Wade's personal authority, an agreement which has been built on by the visit of the Minister of Immigration, National Identity and Co-Development, M. Hortefeux, and is working extremely effectively. I believe that the figures I've given prove there's absolutely no political exploitation here. France is an open country. France is a generous country. France loves Africa. France doesn't intend plundering African universities. France has the courage to talk to the Africans as responsible statesmen and stateswomen. We can't take in everyone.

On this question of immigration, there have been a lot of lies, a lot of hypocrisy. It's easy for countries which do infinitely less than France to lecture. France is doing a lot and my role as President of the French Republic is to remind you, Senegalese journalists and French journalists, of this. You know I don't say different things depending on where I am, I always say the same. I was very moved by the welcome the people of Dakar gave me when President Wade and I arrived. But I haven't come to Africa to say something different from what I say in Paris. I respect Africa and I love the Africans. (···)

I am very conscious of the difficulties. Africa is 14km from Europe and I know perfectly well that Africa's success will be Europe's success, and Africa's failure will be Europe's disaster. If there's one continent which has to understand that our destinies are linked, it's ours. If France has one responsibility, it's to get the Europeans to understand that African youth is entitled to development, growth, training and jobs, but in order to help their countries, not leave them. This doesn't mean everyone has to stay, or that African youth is subject to a compulsory residence order. But like all young people in the world, they have to think about developing their countries, because Africa will develop first of all thanks to the Africans. And if the best qualified Africans leave, how will Africa develop? (···)

FRANCE/AFRICA/"PRE CARRE”

Q. – What's your view of the growing presence of countries other than France in Africa and particularly in her "private domain"?

THE PRESIDENT – I certainly wouldn't have used the expression "private domain" because I don't find that respectful. First of all, I find that, contrary to what I hear said, it's very good news for Africa that countries other than France are taking an interest in Africa's development. I don't know how people can say they are keen to see Africa's development and at the same time complain that new forces are investing in Africa. The term "private domain" makes no sense.

We have friends in Africa because we have a common history and there are countries we don't share a history with, but which it's in our interest to see develop and stabilize. Geography has put Europe, and thus France, and Africa as neighbours. We want to help Africa's development. And in fact, I said two things to President Wade: the first is that I wanted him to think about the dialogue between France and Africa and help me modernize its format to make it more fruitful, subtler and more frank. I also told President Wade that in my view it wasn't normal for the permanent members of the Security Council not to include a single representative of Africa. President Wade, once again, said some very strong things on this. Africa has to be represented among the permanent members of the Security Council. Africa is the world's youth: 400 million Africans are under 17 years of age. Africa needs friends and France is Africa's friend. Francophone Africa, of course, but France is happy to have friends all over Africa. In the name of this friendship, France wants to help Africa to develop, unite, stabilize and be a continent of peace. That's a fine project. Thank you./.

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