A front-page headline in Fraternite Matin announces that a new defense accord was signed Thursday in Paris between President Ouattara and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy. An article (p. 4) suggests that the signing of the new deal was the major event during President Ouattara's three-day state visit to France.

The paper, however, indicates that the content of the agreement was not revealed but reports President Sarkozy as saying that "this new agreement takes into account relations based on mutual respect and a partnership that will include a military cooperation between the two countries." "The role of the French army is not to interfere in Cote d'Ivoire's internal affairs," the paper also quotes President Sarkozy as saying. The paper also suggests that one of the key points of the new agreement will be the reduction of the number of French military troops from 700 to 250 or 300 in Cote d'Ivoire. The agreement will also provide mechanisms for training of the Ivorian army in the fight against terrorism and security in Cote d'Ivoire's territorial waters, indicates the paper.

In a related development, the paper quotes President Ouattara who promised that the new parliament in Cote d'Ivoire will quickly "ratify this treaty whose content will be announced." "France needs Cote d'Ivoire and Cote d'Ivoire will still need France. But the problems of Cote d'Ivoire must be resolved by Ivorians themselves," President Ouattara reportedly said.

In the wake of the signing of this defense agreement, Le Nouveau Reveil (p. 1) carries a headline reading, "Cote d'Ivoire wins a jackpot," and quotes President Sarkozy as saying, "France is proud for having prevented the worst from happening in Cote d'Ivoire." "We were very happy to help reestablish peace in Cote d'Ivoire under the UN mandate," L'Intelligent d'Abidjan (p. 5) quotes President Sarkozy as saying. "France is waiting for the coup plotters," warns a banner headline in Nord-Sud Quotidien (p. 1). "Defense agreement between France and Cote d'Ivoire: it's signed," says another banner headline in Le Patriote (p. 1) which quotes (p. 4) President Sarkozy as saying, "We've helped prevent a civil war in Cote d'Ivoire."

But Notre Voie tells readers a different story with a front-page headline reading, "Ouattara's visit to France: Ivorians voice their anger." The paper (p. 2) carries a cartoon depicting the relationship between Sarkozy and Ouattara with a headline reading, "the prince at the king's." The article suggests that "Alassane Dramane Ouattara is the man who has been chosen by France to take control of Cote d'Ivoire, a country which under Laurent Gbagbo's regime was struggling to emancipate itself from its former colonial master." According to the paper, President Ouattara's visit to France has sparked demonstrations by Ivorians and other Africans. The paper also carries photos of protesters holding placards with messages reading, "Shame on France that welcomes an assassin called Ouattara."

About the new defense agreement, Notre Voie (p. 3) denounces a deal that was signed without the approval of the people of Cote d'Ivoire. Another article on the same page suggests that the new agreement is "not different from the previous one" in "protecting dictatorship and looting of wealth."

This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The opinions expressed in these reviews in no way reflect the views of the United States Government and are presented for informational purposes only. The accuracy of reports contained in this summary has not been confirmed by the Embassy.