<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1254"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4134.600" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://www.lemonde.fr/imprimer_article_ref/0,9187,3224--239544,00.html">http://www.lemonde.fr/imprimer_article_ref/0,9187,3224--239544,00.html</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=050144008-04112001>Sleazemaster Jacques Chirac, secure behind his recently-confirmed presidental immunity, merrily stole a theme for his presidential campaign from the left. At last Wednesday's council of ministers jaws dropped around the table as he launched into a two-minute speech solemnly defending the nations of the South. Speaking only 10 days before the WTO summit, he said: "If we remain as privileged nations, we will only encounter stronger opposition. We have to maintain development aid and all other means for insuring a financial flow toward the countries of the South, failing which we should not be surprised if they revolt".</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=050144008-04112001></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=050144008-04112001>My guess is that he's squeezing the socialists who have already set their bargaining position for Doha, which Chirac will thrust in their faces when they come back.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <P align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hakki Alacakaptan<BR></FONT></P> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>