France pledges to help address economic problems

France on Monday pledged to assist the Central African Republic (CAR) address its financial crisis, exacerbated by the failed military coup d'etat launched on 28 May 2001, PANA news agency reported. Speaking after talks in Paris with CAR Prime Minister Martin Ziguele, the French minister for International Cooperation and Francophone Affairs, Charles Josselin, said Bangui had fallen behind in its obligations to several financial institutions, and that the situation was hampering CAR's efforts to attract much-needed funds to respond to social concerns such as health and education. "It [the financial situation] is a question we are going to examine with the French minister of finance, but it must also be examined by international financial institutions and the IMF, World Bank, the African Bank (ADB) [...] we are disposed towards re-launching and enhancing dialogue," PANA quoted Josselin as saying. Ziguele, who is on a three-day visit, is expected to meet other French officials, according to PANA, and has reiterated Bangui's firm commitment to resolving the crisis in the CAR.