- Title: UAE: French forces in Gulf could be sent to Mali, French President says
- Date: 15th January 2013
- Summary: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (JANUARY 15, 2013) (REUTERS) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE HOLLANDE WALKING TO PODIUM HOLLANDE AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "So I visited the base which was installed in 2009 and where our soldiers, with a lot of virtue and excellence in the use of the equipment given to them and in the co-operation they are leading with Emiratis, are operating for our own security. Not only for the region's security, but for our own defence. The best proof of that is that some of the planes - French planes - on this base could be eventually used in the operation in Mali." FLOWERS ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "Some events happen, and I talked about Mali, which affect us, France, first. Not because of our history in Africa, no. Because we have values and principles. And when a country is attacked by terrorism, when a country calls on France, when African people ask us to be there, when the world, which doesn't have the same capacity and swiftness to intervene, gives us the international legality to do it, then France must be there. I took this decision, which was not an easy one, but if we had not taken it, then today Mali would probably be under the control of terrorists." GUARD SALUTING HOLLANDE LEAVING PODIUM VARIOUS OF HOLLANDE AMONG AUDIENCE NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 30th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA2PUEOBCHZQQ6PWFB1BSINC8PS
- Story Text: French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday (January 15) that more troops could be sent to Mali from a French base in the Gulf.
Speaking from a French military base in Abu Dhabi, at the start of a day-long visit to the United Arab Emirates, Hollande said French forces at the base could be sent to Mali. The base is home to 700 soldiers and six Rafales out of the 100 in the French air force, which could be used to supply troops and equipment for the Mali operation.
"So I visited the base which was installed in 2009 and where our soldiers, with a lot of virtue and excellence in the use of the equipment given to them and in the co-operation they are leading with Emiratis, are operating for our own security. Not only for the region's security, but for our own defence. The best proof of that is that some of the planes - French planes - on this base could be eventually used in the operation in Mali," Hollande said.
France plans to deploy a total of 2,500 soldiers in its former colony to bolster the Malian army, and work with a planned force of 3,300 West African troops from the immediate region, to tackle Islamist rebels in the north.
Hollande said it was the role of France to respond to the call of African people for help.
"Some events happen, and I talked about Mali, which affect us, France, first. Not because of our history in Africa, no. Because we have values and principles. And when a country is attacked by terrorism, when a country calls on France, when African people ask us to be there, when the world, which doesn't have the same capacity and swiftness to intervene, gives us the international legality to do it, then France must be there. I took this decision, which was not an easy one, but if we had not taken it, then today Mali would probably be under the control of terrorists," he said.
Thousands of African troops are due to take over the offensive but regional armies are scrambling to accelerate the operation, initially not expected for months and brought forward by France's bombing campaign, aimed at stopping a rebel advance on a strategic town last week.. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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