Ramos apologizes to Mitterrand's wife

Ramos apologizes to Mitterrand's wife

MANILA (AFP): President Fidel Ramos has apologized to the wife
of French President Francois Mitterrand for banning her from a
controversial conference on East Timor in the Philippines last
month.

In a letter to Danielle Miterrand, copies of which were
released yesterday, Ramos -- who is to visit France in September
-- said "my government sincerely regrets that your person has
been so affected by this situation."

"Yet I am grateful that your response has been very correct,"
he said, referring to her decision to cancel her attendance at
the Manila meeting, centered on alleged Indonesian military
abuses in the former Portuguese colony.

Ramos, under pressure from Indonesia over the conference,
barred foreign delegates from entering the country. Danielle
Mitterrand's name was left on a blacklist despite her earlier
declaration she would not attend.