FRANCE: GISCARD D'ESTAING SPEAKS ON THE DIAMONDS RECEIVED FROM EMPEROR BOKASSA

Record ID: 636691

  • Title: FRANCE: GISCARD D'ESTAING SPEAKS ON THE DIAMONDS RECEIVED FROM EMPEROR BOKASSA
  • Date: 10th March 1981
  • Summary: Giscard talking in French. Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 25th March 1981 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France, France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABG2OL8E6DXK59CMMMDJGAD08J
  • Story Text: PARIS, FRANCE

    President Giscard D'Estaing said last night (10/3) that jewels given to him by the former African leader, Emperor Bokassa, have been sold for charity. He said the items in question could hardly be described as diamonds. They were not big stones, only something that could be used as decoration or as jewelry. It was the most detailed statement made on the subject since the president was first accused of accepting diamonds. President Giscard D'Estaing denied there had been any impropriety and said he had been the object of base and cowardly attacks. Jean Bedel Bokassa ruled as emperor of the then Central African Empire, (now republic) until he was deposed in a French-backed coup in 1979. In his statement Giscard said "It is I who made him go after we had the agreement of the principal African heads of State and African opinion." He said most of the money had gone to the Red Cross.

    <strong>Source: REUTERS 1" VIDEOTAPE</strong>
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register