Posted on 03/19/2003 12:54:05 PM PST by areafiftyone
Paris on Wednesday warned of "electricity in the air" as Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair prepared to discuss Iraq at a potentially fraught EU summit starting on Thursday night.
France on Wednesday issued a formal complaint over critical comments from British ministers, claiming that the remarks were "unworthy of a friendly nation and a European partner".
The action against Iraq, coupled with steadily deteriorating personal relations between the French president and the British prime minister, has left diplomats in Brussels fearing a damaging clash.
The Greek government, holder of the EU presidency, says it hopes for constructive talks on Iraq at the start of the two-day summit, and will focus on the need for Europe to play a post-war humanitarian role.
"We do not want people to say things which they will later regret, and which could do lasting damage to our common interests," said a senior Greek official.
But on Wednesday French diplomats said Mr Chirac would fight back if his anti-war stance was attacked by Mr Blair. "He has got his boxing gloves on, but won't use them unless provoked," said one.
The nosediving relations were highlighted when Dominique de Villepin, French foreign minister, on Wednesday took the unusual step of complaining to Jack Straw, his British counterpart, over comments made in a House of Commons debate on Iraq.
"The French authorities were shocked and dismayed by the comments made by members of the British government during the recent Commons' debate," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
British officials were hopeful a clash could be avoided, saying it hoped "fundamental differences" over Iraq would not define the whole Anglo-French relationship.
"There is a difference of opinion in relation to Iraq with France, but there are many other issues on which we agree," said Mr Blair's official spokesman. "We're sure there will be fruitful discussions."
Romano Prodi, European Commission president, said EU leaders should consider whether "urgent action" might be needed to protect the European economy from the fallout of an Iraqi war.
At Thursday's talks EU leaders have agreed to discuss humanitarian aid - but anti-war countries, including France and Germany, are refusing to discuss the reconstruction of Iraq.
Chris Patten, EU external affairs commissioner, has warned that Europe would be less likely to approve large sums of cash for Iraq without UN approval for war.
"It will be that much more difficult for the EU to co-operate fully and on a large scale in the reconstruction process if events unfold without proper UN cover and member states remain divided," he said last week.
Germany appeared on Wednesday to retreat on earlier suggestions that it would play a full part in the post-war rebuilding of Iraq.
Senior government officials hinted that Berlin's contribution might be more modest than assumed, in what could be a further impediment to any swift thaw in relations with the US.
Officials stressed that Germany's armed forces were already stretched, with the country being the second biggest contributor of troops to foreign missions after the US. Financial aid would also be a problem given the severe pressures on the budget, they added.
"We're not exactly swimming in money," said a senior official. "I think we'll have to recognise we can only play a modest role."
As far as the military was concerned, "you must see that, in terms of many resources, we're almost at an end", he added.
"I think we have reached the limit of what can be achieved."
The French are like an ugly girl who has been spoiled by rich parents and cant come to terms with the fact that “The universe does not revolve around them”. Talk about a weapon of mass destruction; if they could somehow encapsulate all of the self aggrandizing bitching and whining that emanates from their country (hereafter known as the Rectum of Europe) it would make VX smell like perfume.
Just about the only thing the French are good for is French bashing. Have to admit we couldn’t do it without em.
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