---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2002 16:35:17 -0700 From: charlotte utting <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] Subject: [WASAN] FW: Bush and Wade/World Cup ---------- From: [log in to unmask] Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2002 08:12:38 EDT To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Bush and Wade/World Cup Bush to meet Senegalese president on Tuesday WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush meets Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade on Tuesday to commend his efforts to resolve Madagascar's political crisis and to discuss development in Africa, the White House said in a statement on Monday. The rival claimants to Madagascar's presidency, Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka, met in Senegal earlier this month but rejected a power-sharing deal designed to end mounting bloodshed on the Indian Ocean Island. Ravalomanana was sworn in as president on May 6 after a court in April declared that he won disputed December elections after a recount agreed by both men. Ratsiraka, a former admiral who ruled the island of 16 million people for more than two decades, called the court biased and refused to quit. The White House said Bush and Wade would discuss bilateral and regional issues, including the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). NEPAD targets billions of dollars in annual investment to revive Africa's ailing economies and alleviate poverty. In return, African nations are to commit themselves to bolstering democracy and human rights while enforcing global standards on economic and corporate governance. 06/17/02 18:16 ET ---------------------- Senegal, France Have Cup Connection By RAF CASERT .c The Associated Press OSAKA, Japan (AP) - Anybody who thought France went out of the World Cup when Zinedine Zidane and company packed their bags had better think again. Senegal is also living and breathing French. ``I am representing Senegal, Africa and France,'' said El Hadji Diouf, the African player of the year who also holds French citizenship. The 1998 World Cup champion was eliminated from the first round after playing three games without a win. Senegal, making its first appearance at soccer's showpiece event, will try to become Africa's first semifinalist on Saturday. And in the happily twisted world of Franco-Senegalese soccer relations, Senegal coach Bruno Metsu, a Frenchman, now feels African at heart. ``I am 100 percent Senegalese at the Cup,'' said Metsu, not worried at all that his team's 1-0 upset win over France in the tournament opener contributed to France's early exit. ``Sports comes ahead of everything at this stage,'' he said. Yet beating defending champion France always came with a tinge of regret. Just look at the players' bios and see how closely they are attached to their former colonial ruler. Khalilou Fadiga, known for his lightning-fast moves on the left wing and in midfield, was born in Paris 27 years ago and started his career at Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star before moving to Belgium and returning to Auxerre. Others came at a very young age from the small West African country of 10 million, which was emerging from colonialism. Many started playing soccer on the rough streets of Paris before entering France's soccer system. ``If Senegal has arrived where it is now, it is because of the French school,'' Diouf told the French sports paper L'Equipe. Look at their clubs and everything immediately becomes clear. Few have made it to France's glamour teams, and if one does, like goalkeeper Tony Sylva, he is often languishing as a substitute of a substitute. Most play for teams like Sedan, an aging industrial town in France's northern Ardennes, or Lens, a former coalmining town which has built itself a great reputation as an overachiever in French soccer. In comparison, almost no one on the French team plays in the French league anymore, having all moved to such glittering clubs as Real Madrid or Juventus. So in that sense, the storybook run of the Senegalese proves the value of French domestic soccer after years of dismissing it as mediocre. ``The truth is on show here,'' Sylva said. ``It truly shows the value of the French league.'' And it adds color to France when the fans of Les Bleus are having the worst kind of blues. Four years ago, everybody was dancing in the streets of Paris to shouts of Zi-dane. Now it is the time for the many Senegalese there. Flag-waving Senegal supporters danced with joy on the Champs-Elysees - the scene of mass celebrations by France fans in 1998 - after Henri Camara's golden goal in a 2-1 win over Sweden on Sunday. All this unity with France should not be pushed too far though. ``From the bottom of our hearts, this is truly a Senegalese victory,'' Sylva said. 06/18/02 07:34 EDT [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Free $5 Love Reading Risk Free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/3PCXaC/PfREAA/Ey.GAA/DKgolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Next WASAN meeting is Wednesday, June 26, 2002. Location: Safeco Jackson Street Center, E Main between 23 & 24, Suite 200, Seattle 7:30 PM WASAN business meeting. Everyone is welcome. We usually meet the fourth Wednesday of the month. For a calendar of local Africa events see http://www.ibike.org/africamatters/calendar.htm . To post a message: [log in to unmask] To subscribe send a message to [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe send a message to [log in to unmask] . All past postings are archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wa-afr-network Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~