French President Jacques Chirac, left, shakes hands with outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder before a final working dinner Friday Oct.14, 2005 in Paris, to prepare for the upcoming EU summit. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
Posted on 10/14/2005 7:37:48 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
PARIS (AP) - A stoic atmosphere prevailed Friday at outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's farewell dinner with French President Jacques Chirac, one of his closest allies on issues ranging from Europe's future to the Iraq war.
"Let's not be too sentimental or else we'll have to get out our handkerchiefs," Schroeder said before dinner at the Elysee Palace.
Schroeder is to step down after Chancellor-designate Angela Merkel formally takes office.
Every six weeks, Chirac and Schroeder have got together for informal dinners, harmonizing their policies. They hugged warmly as Schroeder got out of the car Friday.
Through Chirac, "I have learned to know and love the French," Schroeder told reporters.
Chirac returned the compliment, saying he had "great admiration for the extraordinary work that has been carried out by Germany's chancellor," especially his reforms.
The two men had tense relations when the German leader took office in 1998, three years after Chirac. Chirac is center-right, while Schroeder is center-left. Neither masters the other's language, and they are forced to rely on interpreters or use English.
Yet they banded together in the run-up to the Iraq war, speaking out against U.S. invasion plans. At the European level, Chirac and Schroeder joined together to oppose Britain's hefty budget rebate defended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Merkel has stressed the importance of improving relations with the United States, strained by Schroeder's opposition to the war in Iraq.
French President Jacques Chirac, left, shakes hands with outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder before a final working dinner Friday Oct.14, 2005 in Paris, to prepare for the upcoming EU summit. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
that title got my hopes up for a minute...not fair.
I can't think of a dinner I'd rather not be a part of. Possibly a dinner with Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand....but it is a push at best.
I will not be able to eat for days after reading this story.
I was thinking a murder/suicide.
oops. Mr. Chirac doesn't seem pleased with my comment.
i bet they had plenty of whine.
A weasels' banquet...
Hope they feasted on crow with a heapin' helpin' of humble pie for dessert.
For some reason that face makes me want to go out and buy a pair of Hush Puppies shoes.
Only makes sense since Chirac helped him get into office...he used money from the ELF scandal to contribute to Schr's election funds.
So who leads when they tango?
No Gerhard. I retreat, You lead.
Nice. Very nice.
Lol, of course...
To take some thing from my beloved World Series bound White Sox for herr shi***kopf shroeder:
na na na na
na na na na
hey heeeey
gooodddbyyyyeee
To take some thing from my beloved World Series bound White Sox for herr shi***kopf shroeder:
na na na na
na na na na
hey heeeey
gooodddbyyyyeee
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