Chirac sparks 'New Europe' ire [Chiraq alert!]

BBC News ^ | 2/20/03 | Various

[William McKinley]

French President Jacques Chirac's criticism of the East European EU applicants' support for the US stance on Iraq has generated a wide debate and angry reaction in the press in those countries. The following are quotes from newspapers from across the region.

The Czech Republic

The French president is without doubt walking on thin ice when he tries to base European foreign policy on the principle of anti-Americanism. His theory does not even have the support of the majority of EU member states.
Hospodarske Noviny

All Central European nations are used to the interpretations that some countries have more rights than others. They are also used to furious tirades, followed by tanks. If Chirac wants to revive the spirit of Leonid Brezhnev and renew the doctrine of limited sovereignty, which means fewer rights for some countries, it is his own affair.
Mlada Fronta Dnes

The EU is a realistic kind of club where it's all about political power and pushing through the aims of individual states. And when it gets uncomfortable for EU politicians to take on board new countries, they calmly throw them overboard, for instance over their attitude to the USA.
Lidove Noviny

Hungary

Chirac is probably not alone in his views, even if the politicians of other EU states put things more diplomatically. However, the two camps, split over the Iraq affair, both seek the favours of the central and east-central European states which, owing to their Nato and expected EU membership, have grown in value.
Magyar Hirlap

Specific eastern European views has now become an unavoidable presence in the set of values of the expanding EU. It was no coincidence that, following the adoption of the joint stance, the French president criticized in unusually sharp language those candidate states which had been urging a firmer EU-US stand on Iraq.
Nepszabadsag

Latvia

All right, Monsieur Chirac. Perhaps we are poor. Perhaps we were not raised properly. We do not know about fine wine and the various directions of avant-garde art. But we do not repay those who have helped us and who continue to help us with ingratitude.
Neatkariga Rita Avize

Perhaps there are some in Paris who want to be the patriarch of Europe's "family", letting others in the family "knock on the door" humbly. By denying the right of others to hold independent views, however, France runs a risk of being alone with its own view.
Diena

Lithuania

Paris's attempt to ruin EU enlargement may lead to a rift in the EU. But this scenario would be a nightmare even for France itself, which is trying to proclaim itself as the strongest EU power.
Lietuvos Rytas

It seems France, the nation with old pedagogical traditions, decided to continue educating the European juniors.
Verslo Zinios

Poland Chirac allowed himself to say things which should not have been said... Poland can make its own sovereign decisions about its views. EU membership must not deprive us of this right. Loyalty towards Paris should not mean subordination. Loyalty brings obligations on both sides.
Rzeczopolita

Romania

French President Jacques Chirac's harsh criticism of Romania and Bulgaria for bad behaviour and recklessness for their support for the USA on Iraq is without precedent... During the Gulf War Romania was criticised for supporting Iraq and it is now criticised for supporting the USA.
Adevarul

Slovenia

Most senior politicians of sovereign states have no right to their own opinion, even if it is even more controversial than the "Vilnius declaration". The "cold shower" was sudden but it did not come completely out of the blue.
Delo

Slovakia

Jacques Chirac's degrading message to the candidate countries can actually be taken as a compliment. The French President admitted defeat in his rage. Suddenly the 15 [EU members] succeeded in resolving within a couple of hours a matter on which they were not able to agree for months. It was the "new Europe" which forced "the old" to overcome itself.
Sme

Neither Slovakia, nor any other candidate country will enter the EU to keep silent but in order to make their voice be heard more... After enlargement, the EU will be different. Less French or German, less Chirac's. However, not worse for that.
Pravda

"When [Chirac] reproached the candidate countries for not having discussed their attitudes with the others to a minimal extent at least, he forgot that it was mainly France and Germany who, since the very beginning, have taken a negative stance on a possible use of force against Iraq and on Turkey's request for ... military aid without asking about positions of other countries.
Narodna Obroda

[William McKinley]

No one recognizes a totalitarian like those who lived under the boots of totalitarians.

All Central European nations are used to the interpretations that some countries have more rights than others. They are also used to furious tirades, followed by tanks. If Chirac wants to revive the spirit of Leonid Brezhnev and renew the doctrine of limited sovereignty, which means fewer rights for some countries, it is his own affair.

Zing!

[areafiftyone]

I had a strange thought - Do you think Europe is in for a civil war amongst themselves - France and Germany against the Western nations? Just a wierd thought but I don't think this EU will happen.

[yoe]

"French President Jacques Chirac is a pivotal figure on the international scene, whose views on Iraq are of vital concern. Those views are not driven simply by geopolitics, however. The factors that shape his thinking include a long, complex and sometimes mysterious relationship with Saddam Hussein. The relationship is not secret, but it is no longer as well known as it once was -- nor is it well known outside of France. It is not insignificant in understanding Chirac's view of Iraq."

[KC_Conspirator]

bump

[MadIvan]

I liked how the Latvians b**** slapped Chirac in particular.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

I know who I would side with in such a war. I trust the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, and Baltic states a tremendous amount more than I trust the Germans or French.

Regards, Ivan

[jdege]

If they try to build a single nation-state out of the unaccountable structures they have now, yes, I do believe the EU is heading towards civil war.

It's almost inevitable.

[Corporate Law]

You stole my thunder on that. The first Latvian quote is the best of a great bunch.

[joesnuffy]

French authorities have just announced that henceforth fireworks
will be banned at the Euro Disney amusement park. It seems that under
the stress of the Iraqi war threat, 2,000 French soldiers at a garrison
near Euro Disney surrendered to Mickey Mouse following last night's
display..

[areafiftyone]

I saw the president of Latvia on Fox the other night and she is so cool!! She is not afraid of anyone. I was really impressed by her!

[eureka!]

Neat post. Methinks that Chirac has damaged France vis a vis future relations with "New Europe" more than he knows. This Iraq matter will come and go and France will find itself regretting putting francs before the right thing, big time....

[George W. Bush]

The first Latvian quote is the best of a great bunch.

Latvian bump. Their president, Vera, is often compared to Margaret Thatcher. There is a certain determined look about her that says she won't be cowed or told to shut up. It was shrewd that Bush used the whole afternoon on the blizzard day to bring her to the White House for personal conference. We're cementing deals with the Baltic states of the New Europe. His extended appearance with her publicly afterward makes a real impression in Europe, exactly as intended.

France has made a very serious and costly error. And now they're apologizing left and right to New Europe while Blair sends warm letters to them about how he wanted to include them in the EU summit in recognition of their entry to EU next year. And France is left backpedaling and saying "oh, no, we weren't really threatening your entry or saying you shouldn't speak." What a joke.

France, as usual, defeats itself.

After all this, I am far more willing to see our government do more to build up the economies of eastern Europe and start moving our military to new bases there. It wouldn't cost that much over the course of a decade and it would benefit our servicemen that in their spending dollars go much further and it would improve their standard of living considerably. And some of these eastern countries are as beautiful and cultured as Germany is.

Moving our bases would also force France and Germany to spend far more on their own defense or be perceived as being even more weak than they are at present. After all, our troops there are actually a tripwire for our nuclear trigger and conventional forces. We need to remove that trigger and that subsidy to the German economy which will then finally force Germany to choose the impotence of socialism or to become more capitalistic and responsible for their own defense.

[George W. Bush]

LOL!

[Trust but Verify]

I saw the president of Latvia on Fox the other night and she is so cool!! She is not afraid of anyone. I was really impressed by her!

Yep, another STRONG leader. Peace through pacifism is not peace. It is surrender.

[MadIvan]

I saw the president of Latvia on Fox the other night and she is so cool!! She is not afraid of anyone. I was really impressed by her!

I am impressed by how strongly the Eastern Europeans have come out for the Allies.

Latvia stands as a particular example because they have been most vehement in cutting Chirac down to size.

Regards, Ivan

[He Rides A White Horse]

bttt

[MadIvan]

After all this, I am far more willing to see our government do more to build up the economies of eastern Europe and start moving our military to new bases there.

I think we would all be better off if NAFTA was extended to the UK, Ireland, Eastern Europe, and anyone who didn't want to follow the French, Belgians and Germans. Once the EU is torn up, we can then shut the borders to them.

Regards, Ivan

[InShanghai]

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If you've seen this picture, sorry for posting it often, but this is my favorite that sums it all up. I wonder if I could get a tee-shirt with that on it?

[A2J]

Jacques Chirac's degrading message to the candidate countries can actually be taken as a compliment. The French President admitted defeat in his rage. Suddenly the 15 [EU members] succeeded in resolving within a couple of hours a matter on which they were not able to agree for months. It was the "new Europe" which forced "the old" to overcome itself. Sme

Brilliant!

It moves me to tears to see countries that were once prevented from expressing their hearts are now free to do so with such beautiful words and thought.

[InShanghai]

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Oops, Should have been this picture!