Posted on 02/08/2005 4:05:44 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
US SECRETARY of State Condoleezza Rice has called for a "new chapter" in relations with Europe after a rift over the Iraq war and began repairing ties with France, one of the biggest critics of the conflict.
Ms Rice pointedly made the appeal in Paris during an eight-nation tour, underlining the message that President George W. Bush wants Europe to be a partner and not a rival. Calling each other "Michel" and "Condi" at a joint news conference, Ms Rice and French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier pledged to give US-French relations a new start and emphasised areas of cooperation rather than strains.
"It is time to turn away from the disagreements of the past. It is time to open a new chapter in our relationship and a new chapter in our alliance," Ms Rice said in a speech to students and academics at Paris's prestigious Sciences Politiques university.
"America stands ready to work with Europe on our common agenda and Europe must stand ready to work with America," said Ms Rice, a former university provost.
She made Paris the venue for the main speech of her tour to show Europe that the Bush administration has ended an internal debate about whether to view a united Europe as a rival or as a partner, a senior US official said.
She chose to make the speech at the university because it has been at the centre of intellectual and political debate over transatlantic ties.
Ms Rice was greeted by warm applause and, although she appeared nervous and delivered the speech with little flair, she did not face a grilling in questions after the speech.
"When we disagreed, we still disagreed as friends," she said of relations with France. Later, standing beside Mr Barnier at their news conference, she said: "When the United States and France work together there's a great deal we can achieve."
Gentler rhetoric
Trying out his English, which he is brushing up, Mr Barnier said: "Chere Condi, it's time for a fresh start."
Underlining the desire for reconciliation, French President Jacques Chirac - who met Rice but did not speak to reporters - is due to meet Mr Bush for dinner in Brussels on February 21st and will soon visit Washington.
A French government source also said Washington had agreed to hand over to France its last three citizens held by US forces at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. This would remove one obstacle to better ties, but French officials did not confirm the deal.
Mr Barnier and Ms Rice underlined cooperation in regional conflicts such as Afghanistan and Kosovo before starting talks, and avoided mention of their differences over Iraq.
Mr Barnier did, however, call for US support in trying to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear programme, which Washington says is aimed at developing nuclear arms. Iran denies this.
Ms Rice took a tough line against Iran, saying it must not be allowed to dictate terms for proving it is meeting pledges not to produce a nuclear arsenal. A trio of European countries are holding talks with Iran but Washington is not taking part.
Ms Rice has chosen mainly to underline shared values with Europe rather than potentially divisive issues on her first trip as the top US diplomat.
Screw the Frogs!!!
The froggie gov't are lowlife scum. Forget them, Condi. They're as irrelevant, impotent and incompetent as Etch-A-Sketch® is. They're merely worthy or tormenting, berating and taunting.
"The French are as useless as a kite in a hurricane"
Let me add that you cannot hate the French too much.
That said, however, Dr. Rice has more brains about these things than I.
It will never get me to buy another French product or visit that country of pigs though!
Flash message to News.Com.AU:
It is DOCTOR RICE, not Ms. Rice.
That is all.
Regardless, France remains as useless as "boobs on a boar". This is all for show. It will amount to NOTHING substantive because the French are nothing of substance.
An epilogue, perhaps?
My thoughts exactly
They should be xcancelled.
Me too -- as long as it's the last chapter.
I'm sure you will note the article originated from Agence France-Presse. 'nough said.
How about the ending chapter.
Please. There are press accounts and there is reality:
I highly recommend reading our firsthand accounts of watching and hearing this speech and q & a LIVE.
Here is a link to the thread with the transcript. Read the answers to the questions. She is brilliant:
The only real chapter that deserves consideration to be written on France is a short one pager of obscure footnotes in history. The page should have a serrated binding for ease of detachment in order to wipe one's butt with if required.
I doubt if you ever visited France.
Just because they have some pighead politicians - like everybody else - doesn't mean all you wrote.
I do know, better than you, as I live in France.
This thread is a disgrace, as disgusting as an antisemitic, or any other kind of racism, thread.
Bonsoir.
This THREAD is a disgrace?
What about my post #17????
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