Brussels, 04/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, France repeated the EU's threat to withdraw financial aid to Niger as the country was holding a controversial referendum to allow President Mamadou Tanja to stay in power.
“France's position is very clear, and we have repeated it on more than one occasion: President Tandja's recent decisions constitute repeated attacks on democracy. They do not fall within the constitutional framework and could have a long-lasting weakening effect on Niger's institutions,” AFP reports a spokesman for French Foreign Minister Romain Nadal as saying. “We give our full backing to (Friday's) statement made by the Presidency of the European Union” on EU-Niger cooperation, he said (see EUROPE 9954). “Recent political events in Niger run counter to the essential elements of the Cotonou Agreement and could, therefore, bring about suspension of Community cooperation under the terms of Article 96,” he added. (O.L./transl.rt)