Chirac to Meet With Bush at G-8 Summit

Yahoo News ^ | May 27 2003 | JOHN LEICESTER/AP

[knighthawk]

PARIS - For President Jacques Chirac, it will be a moment of truth: a handshake with President Bush that will be photographed and scrutinized for clues to whether their fractious relationship is on the mend.

Chirac meets Bush at a summit starting Sunday that offers them and other world leaders who argued bitterly over the war in Iraq a major opportunity to heal rifts.

For Chirac, the success of the Group of Eight summit in the French spa town of Evian could hinge on how well — or badly — his encounters with Bush go. Bush has not set foot in France since the crisis over Iraq nor met with Chirac since November, although they have spoken by phone.

Observers at Evian "will be measuring the length of a handshake with minute rulers," Britain's ambassador to France, Sir John Holmes, told The Associated Press.

The summit "is not going to work miracles — some of the personal relationships are more difficult," Holmes said. "But everybody will be perfectly polite and friendly to each other and I think it will probably improve things, without actually solving all the problems we have."

Chirac says he hopes that despite their differences, world leaders will regroup behind a crucial goal: kickstarting the sputtering global economy.

"After difficult months, Evian is the occasion to show that nations can and want to get along, act together in the service of mankind by growing their economies," he said recently.

But Chirac remains unrepentant about his opposition to the war — and the anger he sparked in the United States by trying to thwart Bush's efforts to win support in the United Nations for the campaign to oust Saddam Hussein.

"A war that lacks legitimacy does not acquire legitimacy just because it has been won," Chirac told London's Financial Times in an interview Monday.

He added: "I have been struck by the hostility coming out of Washington and it saddens me. But I regard this as the chattering of a few people, which has been picked up by the media. Frankly, I don't lose much sleep over it."

Bush has not disguised the depth of his anger, saying last month he's unlikely to invite Chirac to his beloved Texas ranch "any time soon." German leader Gerhard Schroeder, who joined Chirac in opposing the war, has been unable to speak to Bush since November and been told that the president will be too busy to meet separately with him at Evian.

But Bush will still have plenty of other people to talk to.

In an effort to reach out to the developing world, Chirac is bringing leaders from 12 other nations in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East to the G-8 meeting.

French officials insist the decision to invite non-G-8 leaders to the summit's opening day was taken before the Iraq crisis.

Officials say they hope that broadening the summit beyond the G-8, which groups together the world's richest nations and Russia, will help soothe anti-globalization protesters who criticize the group as an exclusive rich man's club. Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected for the summit.

Chirac says the challenges of globalization — growing gaps between rich and poor, the threat of terrorism, environmental destruction, to name a few — require a broader approach.

"The G-8 is not the world's board of directors," Chirac said last week. "It is imperative that everyone sits at the table in one way or another and join the discussions needed to control globalization and make it more human."

Nearly 80 percent of Earth's population — and 90 percent of its wealth — will be represented at Evian, the French hosts say.

Besides the United States and Russia, the G-8 includes France, Germany, Japan, Britain, Canada and Italy.

Other leaders attending include Mexico's Vicente Fox, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Morocco's king and the presidents of Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria. Algeria's president canceled because of an earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people last week.

China is coming for the first time, with President Hu Jintao making his first foreign trip since taking office in March.

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[milan]

Ever time Chirac opens his mouth Bush should yell,"we will veto!"

[dts32041]

"I have been struck by the hostility coming out of Washington and it saddens me."

Little tommie's line of thought, exactly.

[prairiebreeze]

"I have been struck by the hostility coming out of Washington and it saddens me.

Well Jacques, we were struck and stunned by the treachery that you and your ilk displayed at the UN too. We aren't saddened. We are pi$$ed. And we won't be forgetting about it anytime soon, no matter how hard you try to minimize your complicity with the sadistic regime of an ousted dictator.

The handshake means little IMO. Bush is a gentleman and will behave cordially. What is said beyond the camera lens, and what plays out with Frenchy in the days to come, will tell the real story.

Prairie

[1smallVoice]

Bush will be polite in front of the cameras but I hope he gives them an earful off camera.

I hope he has reams of secret evidence to show them and to 'convince' the French it is in their best interest to join the US in the future or the evidence will be released and the French government will fall.

[ken5050]

I wish Bush would decide to make a "surprise" visit to the US Military cemetary at Normandy, and thus cut the amount of time he spends with Chirac to about 6 minutes....telling the world that he felt this was a better use of his time..

[F16Fighter]

Dubya ought to show up with an 11 foot pole and glove at the tip...

[chiefqc]

Ah, the clueless leader of France:

Jock Strap.

[schaketo]

Chirac says he hopes that despite their differences, world leaders will regroup behind a crucial goal: kickstarting the sputtering global economy (read French economy).

Perhaps I can help ”Chirac” understand the PERMANENT change in U.S. sentiment:

1. french President Jacques Chirac, personally helped Iraq begin its nuclear program.
2. france assisted China in shipping raw materials for chemical weapons to Iraq through Syria.
3. french security services helped suppress opposition groups seeking to depose Saddam Hussein.
4. The french had supplied Iraq with precision switches for nuclear weapons.
5. french companies had resupplied Iraq with spare parts for fighter jets on the eve of the March 2003 invasion. Intelligence reports indicated that Iraq was able to obtain French military spare parts for its Mirage jets and Gazelle attack helicopters in violation of U.N. sanctions.
6. The french helped Iraqi officials escape U.S. capture by issuing them EU passports. The passports allowed the Iraqis to evade detection by U.S. military and intelligence agencies because they were EU travel documents.
7. Intelligence officials said France attempted to conclude an oil deal with Saddam's government days before U.S. military action began March 19.
8. french anti-aircraft weapons smuggled into Iraq prior to the war, the Roland 3 batteries, and Roland 5 shoulder-fired anti-air missiles. Reports have still not been denied that these systems were stamped '2002 date of manufacture.' 9. The french peddled disinformation against the Americans before the war -- this is a war for oil, Resolution 1441 does not authorize military action, George Bush is "cowboy," etc. -- at the very least, they now deserve some of their own.

Those countries who stood against us before the Iraq War are responsible for EVERY life lost in Iraq -- whether the lives be coalition lives or Iraqi lives. france, more than any other country, is responsible for all the deaths of our warriors.

france had an unemployment rate of 9.3% last month (April 03). It’s rising. Can we help them push it over 10%? 20%?. The new reality show on FOX this fall could be the marxists, socialists, and fundamentalist muslim imports (they are about 10% of the population and growing) burning paris to the ground. You can help:

WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET!

Gotta keep this alive. Share this link with all like minded family and friends. They are feeling the heat.

15000 french products that you can boycott:

http://howtobuyamerican.leethost.com/b-db-boycottfrance.shtml

[schaketo]

A short refresher course:

A list of French companies products to boycott. Some are well known, but many are not. Here goes.

It lists French products to boycott. You will probably be surprised to learn the French own everything from Wild Turkey to Car & Driver to Motel 6 to cheesy Spencer Gifts to disgusting Democrat schlock-show host Jerry Springer.

Air France
Airbus
Alcatel - Based in Paris France
Allegra (Allergy Medication) - Produced by Aventis Pharmaceuticals based in Strasbourg, France
Aqualung (Including: Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest)
AXA Advisors
Bank of the West - Owned by BNP Paribas
Beneteau (boats)
BF Goodrich - Owned by Michelin
BIC (Razors, Pens & Lighters) - Started in 1945 by Marcel Bich. Originally based just outside of Paris. Began trading on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1972. 40.5% Publicly traded. Bich family still owns 33.5%.
Biotherm (Cosmetics)
Black Bush
Bollinger (Champagne)
Car & Driver Magazine
Cartier
Chanel
Chivas Regal (Scotch)
Christian Dior
Club Med (Vacations) - Owned in part by Paris based CDC (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations)
Culligan (owned by Vivendi)
Dannon (Yogurt & Dairy Foods)
DKNY - LVMH acquired 100% of Gabrielle Studio Inc., the privately owned licenser of Donna Karan trademarks back in 2001.
Dom Perignon
Durand Crystal
Elle Magazine
Essilor Optical Products
Evian
Fina Oil - Billions invested in Iraqi Oil fields
First Hawaiian Bank
Focal (Car speakers)www.focal-jmlab.fr
George Magazine
Givenchy
Hennessy
Houghton Mifflin (books)
International Herald Tribune - 181 ave Charles-de-Gaulle - F-92521 Neuilly - FRSource:World Business Council for Sustainable Development '00 [Domain Registration], [Corporate Profile]
Jacobs Creek - Owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989
Jameson (wiskey)
Jerry Springer (talk show)
JMLab (Speakers)www.focal-jmlab.fr
Krups (coffee and cappaccino makers)
Lancome
Le Creuset (Cookware)
L'Oreal (Health & Beauty Products)
Louis Vuitton
Marie Claire
Martel Cognac
Maybelline
Méphisto (Footwear & Apparel)
Michelin (Tires & Auto Parts) - Their phone number is: (33) 1 45 66 15 53 in France
Mikasa Crystal and Glass (purchased by ARC int'l in 2001)
Moet (Champagne
Motel 6 - 33, Avenue du Maine- 75755 Paris Cedex 15 France
Motown Records
MP3.com
Mumms (Champagne)
Nissan (Cars) - Majority owned by Renault
Nivea
Normany Butter
Parents Magazine
Peugeot (Automobiles) - Pronounced "Pooh Joe", must be French
Pierre Cardin
Playstation Magazine
ProScan - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France
Publicis Group (Including: Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising) - Here's a French connection that'll tick ya off--a couple years ago Publicis bought the Leo Burnett Advertising agency and that agency does the "Go Army" campaign. Sickening ain't it?
RCA (televisions & electronics) - Owned by Thomson Electronics
Red Magazine
Red Roof Inns - Owned by the Accor group based in France
Renault (Automobiles)
Road & Track Magazine
Roquefort Cheese - All Roquefort cheese is made in France
Rowenta (Toasters, Irons, Coffee makers, etc)
Royal Canadian
Salomon (Skis)
Seagram's Gin
Sierra Software and Computer Games
Smart & Final
Sofitel (Hotels) - Owned by the Accor group based in France
Sparkletts (Water) - Owned by Danone, based in France
Spencer Gifts
Sundance Channel
Taylor Made (Golf)
Technicolor
T-Fal (Kitchenware)
The Glenlivet (Scotch
Total Gas Stations
Triangle (Speakers)www.triangle-fr.com
UbiSoft (Computer Games)
Uniroyal
Uniroyal Tires - Owned by Michelin
Universal Studios (Music, Movies & Theme Parks) - Universal Studios is owned by Vivendi-Universal, headquartered in Paris France
USFilter
Veritas Group
Veuve Clicquot Champagne
Vittel
Vivendi - Vivendi Headquarters, Paris France
Wild Turkey (bourbon)
Woman's Day Magazine
Yoplait - France-based Sodiaal owns a 50% stake of Yoplait
Yves Saint Laurent
Yema watches
Zodiac Inflatable Boats

Please add to the list and email to your like-minded friends.