Anglo-French ties on the mend
Prime Minister Tony Blair and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac attempted to rebuild their fractured diplomatic relationship at an evening meal at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris last night.
Both leaders have much to do in overcoming the deep schism which emerged in the wake of the unilateral US-led war against Iraq.
France, Germany, Russia among others demanded of the US that it should await further reports from UN inspectors on Iraq’s capacity for weapons of mass destruction before attacking Saddam Hussein’s regime.
The US and her allies ignored the entreaty and launched a campaign to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and his alleged WMDs.
Communications between the countries were jarred somewhat as a result.
Mr. Blair, speaking after the meeting, said: ‘Whatever differences there have been over Iraq, I have no doubt at all that it is vitally important for the future of both our countries, and for the future of Europe, that Britain and France work closely together.’
On Monday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said the UK was not sufficiently convergent with other European economies to embrace the single currency.
With this in mind, Tony Blair assured Mr. Chirac that Britain was still fully committed to the values and ideals of the European Union.
‘Britain’s future lies in full-hearted membership in the EU,’ he said.
It is thought the PM and Mr. Chirac discussed the Africa’s current social and economic woes, the euro, post-war reconstruction and humanitarian aid in Iraq.
On the strained issue of EU defence the leaders appeared to make some headway on closer integration.
Mr. Blair said: ‘We are both agreed that it is vitally important we take European defence forward, not because it is in any shape or form directed against our transatlantic alliance, but on the contrary as a compliment to it.’
Mr. Chirac, for his part, said: ‘There is no Europe without defence, and no European defence without England.’
Their meeting came ahead of next week’s summit in Thessaloniki, Greece, where leaders will debate the controversial European constitution.
They last met for bilateral talks back in February, prior to the outbreak of hostilities against Iraq.
Mr. Blair is expected to meet French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin this morning before returning to the UK.
