French Prime Minister Francois Fillon is expected to address the National Assembly today on a delicate matter that threatens to disrupt unusually warm Canada-France relations.
The French government is under intense pressure from the economically marginalized and increasingly restive citizens of the French islands of St-Pierre-Miquelon (SPM), just south of Newfoundland, to stake a claim to thousands of square kilometres of potentially energy-rich Atlantic Ocean seabed.
They and their politicians are accusing France of abandoning and "humiliating" them over Canada-France territorial disputes. They want Paris to go to the United Nations to assert France's claim to what it sees as its rights to the Atlantic Ocean seabed.
France must make its claim before the UN's Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf by May 13 or lose that right forever. The signals from the government "couldn't be any stronger" that France is going to make the application, despite Canada's long-standing and firm opposition to any French claims beyond its exclusive economic zone around the islands, according to a source in the French National Assembly.
Two French SPM parliamentarians, one a senator from President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-of-centre UMP party and the other a Socialist member of the National Assembly, are holding a news conference today to keep pressure on the government.
The senator, Denis Detcheverry, said the objective is to force Canada to negotiate with France on ways to share resources, resource management and economic development in the region.
"It is not a question of whether (France is) declaring war on Canada, or even going to court," Detcheverry told Canwest News Service. The goal is "dialogue, not confrontation."
The member of the National Assembly, Annick Girardin, has noted that recent demonstrations on the islands under the so-called "SOS" campaign have drawn between 700 and 1,000 participants - more than 10 per cent of the total population.
In a letter Girardin sent earlier this month to Sarkozy, she demanded that the government stand up to St-Pierre-Miquelon's "giant" neighbour.
She complained that inhabitants face a "disaster" that will leave the island deserted, and noted the public and governmental attention paid to Martinique and Guadeloupe, which received French aid after violent protests in those Caribbean islands.
"This isn't a matter of dramatizing a situation in order to attract your attention, it is simply a call for your help," wrote Girardin.
In a recent media commentary, she described a 1992 UN Court of Arbitration decision, in which France had claimed a 48,000-square-kilometre exclusive economic zone around the archipelago, but was forced to settle with one-quarter that claim, as a "diplomatic humiliation" for France that was caused by neglect.
The elongated French zone is known as "the baguette."
The Canadian government said in 2005 that Ottawa does not recognize any French seabed claims outside the zone it has already been awarded.
St-Pierre-Miquelon pushing France to make seabed claim
- Published on March 25, 2009
- Published on July 1, 2010
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CanWest News Service
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Comments
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- jean-paul
- - August 14, 2011 at 09:16:21
St pierre et Miquelon ont le droit legitime de tout poursuite dans cette affaire Le Canada est un pays deja riche St Pierre ne l'est pas que justice se poursuive et que les Francais pousuivre cette affaire dans l'interet de St Pierre et Miquelon
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- jp george
- - May 16, 2011 at 12:10:40
we must support this claim and canada must be open and flexible the poeple from these French island are our brothers and cousins, have very little going for them canada is already a rich oil producer these islanders have a right to life and decent future lets support their claim,this can make uge difference to their livyhood
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- Mark
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:05:27
Blame Danny, ha!
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- Miquelon
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:05:20
A simple reply to John W. The French retained possession of this island through negociated treaties between France and Great Britain (1763, 1783 and 1814-16). Those islands have been part of France for the most part of the last five hundred years (1500s to 1713, 1763 to 1778, 1783 to 1793 and 1816 to the present).
There is no historical documentation that points to any contact between Europeans and Natives on that island. -
- Paul
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:03:46
French got more than they deserved in the first place when looking at other precedents, but just like our Quebec french, there is never enough for them.
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- W
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:02:23
Paul: which other precedents?
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- Miquelon
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:02:06
A reply to speedy from PE. This was the second or third organized protest this month. 10 % of any population, including the elderly and children, is a huge number. I defy you to organise a political rally that will muster such large numbers in your own town.
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- Frederick
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:01:23
Canada is a great Nation with a GREAT population, but, this fight does not dignify their reputation. Before Caanada, as a British pawn, existed, France had an internationally recogized rule of the islands AND the rights to the fishing zone historically utilized for the survival of the local population. Five hundred years of control is worthy of honest consideration from Canada.
In exchange, maybe France can give to Canada its' claim to Maine. -
- greg
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:29
Given the state of Health Care in this province we might consider invading St. Pierre and when we reach the steps of the Gendarmerie-----surrender!
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- Miquelon
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:52:52
I am always amazed at the duplicity shown by some Canadians who love to roam this earth and lecture other peoples about law, treaties, respecting minority rights, equality, justice and peace. But when it comes to a small island, struggling to survive after years of economic turmoil caused by Canadian intransigence, hostility, aggression and downright imperialism, one can only question the honesty of Canada's international reputation.
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- Pamela
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:47:41
You ignorant people bashing an island for trying to get what is rightfully yours, it is exactly the same thing that we are trying to do here in Newfoundland under the leadership of Danny. I have always been proud of being a Newfoundlander that has half of my roots from the islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon, my father moved here with his father when he when he was 17 not knowing a word of English and has lived in Newfoundland ever since and has loved his adoptive province but from these comments no wonder he wants to move back home when he retires. The people of St. Pierre et Miquelon deserve some respect both from our government and their government it is not the fault of the inhabitants of the islands that they are stuck in the middle of nowhere and are trying to make a future for themselves and their children, just the same as we are doing here on our great island.
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- speedy
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:46:58
recent demonstrations on the islands under the so-called SOS campaign have drawn between 700 and 1,000 participants more than 10 per cent of the total population.
Lets turn the story arround and say that less than 11 percent of the population was drawn to this campaing. -
- Ned
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:33
Maybe we should bring Joey back from the grave and get him to convince them to join Confederation. Be a nice present for Steven Harper on the 60th anniversary of our reception into the loving arms of the Canadian confederation family.
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- John W.
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:16
Does Canada own or have any land off France. Just wondering. Also wondering how the French got possession of land that belonged to our Newfoundland Beothucks. Did they murder them and take the land. If so, it's about time we took it back.
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- Terry
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:39:10
How the french got possession of that land :
During the 16th century, the islands were used as a base for the seasonal cod fishery by the French of La Rochelle, Granville, Saint-Malo and the Basque Country.
The first written evidence of year-round residents on the islands was in a report in 1670 by the first intendant of New France, Jean Talon. A small chapel was built in 1689 and a military post was constructed in 1690 in Saint-Pierre. Saint-Pierre supplied many of the neighboring French fishing communities like those in Fortune Bay and Hermitage Bay. -
- Mark
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:55:31
Blame Danny, ha!
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- Miquelon
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:55:21
A simple reply to John W. The French retained possession of this island through negociated treaties between France and Great Britain (1763, 1783 and 1814-16). Those islands have been part of France for the most part of the last five hundred years (1500s to 1713, 1763 to 1778, 1783 to 1793 and 1816 to the present).
There is no historical documentation that points to any contact between Europeans and Natives on that island. -
- Paul
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:52:35
French got more than they deserved in the first place when looking at other precedents, but just like our Quebec french, there is never enough for them.
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- W
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:51:19
Paul: which other precedents?
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- Miquelon
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:50:52
A reply to speedy from PE. This was the second or third organized protest this month. 10 % of any population, including the elderly and children, is a huge number. I defy you to organise a political rally that will muster such large numbers in your own town.
-
- Frederick
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:49:52
Canada is a great Nation with a GREAT population, but, this fight does not dignify their reputation. Before Caanada, as a British pawn, existed, France had an internationally recogized rule of the islands AND the rights to the fishing zone historically utilized for the survival of the local population. Five hundred years of control is worthy of honest consideration from Canada.
In exchange, maybe France can give to Canada its' claim to Maine. -
- greg
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:30
Given the state of Health Care in this province we might consider invading St. Pierre and when we reach the steps of the Gendarmerie-----surrender!
-
- Miquelon
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:37:30
I am always amazed at the duplicity shown by some Canadians who love to roam this earth and lecture other peoples about law, treaties, respecting minority rights, equality, justice and peace. But when it comes to a small island, struggling to survive after years of economic turmoil caused by Canadian intransigence, hostility, aggression and downright imperialism, one can only question the honesty of Canada's international reputation.
-
- Pamela
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:28:30
You ignorant people bashing an island for trying to get what is rightfully yours, it is exactly the same thing that we are trying to do here in Newfoundland under the leadership of Danny. I have always been proud of being a Newfoundlander that has half of my roots from the islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon, my father moved here with his father when he when he was 17 not knowing a word of English and has lived in Newfoundland ever since and has loved his adoptive province but from these comments no wonder he wants to move back home when he retires. The people of St. Pierre et Miquelon deserve some respect both from our government and their government it is not the fault of the inhabitants of the islands that they are stuck in the middle of nowhere and are trying to make a future for themselves and their children, just the same as we are doing here on our great island.
-
- speedy
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:27:15
recent demonstrations on the islands under the so-called SOS campaign have drawn between 700 and 1,000 participants more than 10 per cent of the total population.
Lets turn the story arround and say that less than 11 percent of the population was drawn to this campaing. -
- Ned
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:19:53
Maybe we should bring Joey back from the grave and get him to convince them to join Confederation. Be a nice present for Steven Harper on the 60th anniversary of our reception into the loving arms of the Canadian confederation family.
-
- John W.
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:19:23
Does Canada own or have any land off France. Just wondering. Also wondering how the French got possession of land that belonged to our Newfoundland Beothucks. Did they murder them and take the land. If so, it's about time we took it back.
-
- Terry
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:14:18
How the french got possession of that land :
During the 16th century, the islands were used as a base for the seasonal cod fishery by the French of La Rochelle, Granville, Saint-Malo and the Basque Country.
The first written evidence of year-round residents on the islands was in a report in 1670 by the first intendant of New France, Jean Talon. A small chapel was built in 1689 and a military post was constructed in 1690 in Saint-Pierre. Saint-Pierre supplied many of the neighboring French fishing communities like those in Fortune Bay and Hermitage Bay.
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well done and I'm proud of your say regards john-paul