Posted on 02/17/2003 7:04:26 PM PST by UncleSamUSA
Chirac blasts eastern Europeans over pro-American stance, warns on EU membership By PAUL AMES, Associated Press Writer
BRUSSELS, Belgium - French President Jacques Chirac launched a withering attack Monday on eastern European nations who signed letters backing the U.S. position on Iraq, warning it could jeopardize their chances of joining the European Union.
"It is not really responsible behavior," he told a news conference. "It is not well brought up behavior. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet."
Chirac was angered when EU candidates Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined pro-U.S. EU members such as Britain, Spain and Italy last month in a letter supporting Washington's line on Iraq against the more dovish stance of France and Germany.
Paris was further upset when 10 other eastern European nations signed a similar letter a few days later.
France argued that the moves aggravated splits in the 15-nation EU and backed the ideas put forward by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld who had earlier spoke of France and Germany as "old Europe" in contrast to the easterners seeking to join the EU and NATO.
"Concerning the candidate countries, honestly I felt they acted frivolously because entry into the European Union implies a minimum of understanding for the others," Chirac told reporters after an emergency EU summit on Iraq.
He warned the candidates the position could be "dangerous" because the parliaments of the 15 EU nations still have to ratify last December's decision for 10 new members to join the bloc on May 1, 2004.
Chirac particularly warned Romania and Bulgaria, who are still negotiating to enter the bloc in 2007.
"Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible to (sign the letter) when their position is really delicate," Chirac said. "If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way."
Britain, Spain and other EU nations had suggested the candidate nations attend Monday's emergency summit on Iraq, but France and Germany opposed the idea.
Although Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were the driving forces behind the letter backing America and EU members Italy, Denmark and Portugal also signed up, Chirac saved his wrath for the candidates.
"When you're in the family you have more rights than when you're knocking on the door," he said.
Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta are set to join in May 2004. Lagging behind economically, Romania and Bulgaria were told to wait three more years.
Instead of attending the EU summit, the candidates are due to travel to Brussels Tuesday for a briefing on its outcome by Greece, which currently holds the EU presidency.
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis denied they had been excluded from the summit because of their backing for Washington, insisting rules require the treaties be signed first.
"We will not discuss pro-American or anti-American positions," Simitis told a news conference. "The candidate countries will be members" soon, and "we have to proceed together."
Combien d'hommes français prend-il pour défendre Paris ? Réponse : Personne ne sait. Elle n'a été jamais essayée.
Est-ce que les rues de Paris garnies des arbres sont-elles ainsi les soldats allemands peuvent marcher plus confortablement à la nuance
L'euro Disney a dû arrêter les affichages de feux d'artifice parce que chaque fois que ils sont allés au loin, Chirac se rendrait aux touristes d'Allemagne.
Pouvez-vous vraiment dire un soldat français est-vous un vétéran par le coup de soleil sous ses aisselles ?
En vente : Fusils français. Presque nouveau. Seulement laissé tomber une fois dans la crainte.
La plupart des gosses français peuvent-ils tracer leur ascendance de nouveau à un grand-père allemand de la guerre mondiale 2 ?
Bonjour, fromage d'ya mangeant des singes de reddition !
Quand Le Pen et Chirac conviennent sur quelque chose. Vous savez que c'est erroné.
Oui, vous soldat allemand viril ! Les réfugiés juifs se cachent dans le sous-sol. Laissez-moi vous montrer la manière !
What a supercilious, pompous, patronizing piece of French cheese-scum Chirac is! The sheer audacity of referring to the other members as nothing more than CHILDREN! They ought to kick his a$$ from here to kingdom come.
Think about French Fries; Lets call 'em Freedom Fries!
Out
A most excellent observation.
Looks to me like Chirac is trying to fill the vacancy of god by setting himself up as a god-king-emperor of the EU.
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