Mexico is represented by Foreign Secretary Derbez and First Lady Marta Sahagun, Russia by former premier Gorbachev (and June 12th is the new Russian Independence day Putin should be home, would you expect Bush to be out of the country on July 4th ?) Japan is sending Reagan's contemporary former PM Nakasone. Canada will be represented by her head of state: Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson and former PM Mulroney.
Beside the cheese-eating SM, every nation that matters seems well represented.
Newt said Japan actually thought out about sending Reagan's contemporary. I believe Mexican and France actually are making a conscious decision to to not appear.
I belive france's not appearing is an intentional disrespect. My best suggestion is to ignore them. If chirac was form an important country in the world I would consider it significant.
Seriously france has only ONE place of power in the world arena, the UN security counsel. That was a mistake. What does france reeeeeealy have to offer that would be missed if gone?