News from France 05.05 (May 04, 2005)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
http://www.ambafrance-us.org http://www.france.diplomatie.fr VOL. 05.05 MAY 4, 2005 A free triweekly review of French news & trends Online at: www.ambafrance-us.org/publi Barnier Meets With Bush, Rice,Wolfowitz in D.C. INSIDE 2 L’événement RENCH FOREIGN MINISTER Michel Barnier visited supportive of European integration (…). We believe that a united Chirac Calls for Yes Vote Washington on May 2 to talk with Dr. Condoleezza Rice, his Europe, a Europe that is strong and capable, a Europe that is clearly, on E.U. Constitution American counterpart. Barnier also met with National at its core, democratic and that has a long tradition and heritage with 3 France-Amérique Security Advisor Steve Hadley and the president-elect of the the United States, can only be good for the forward march of New U.S. Ambassador FWorld Bank, Paul Wolfowitz. While at the White House, the French progress and democracy in the world. And so we want to see the Named for France foreign minister met for 30 minutes with President George Bush. European project succeed, because a strong Europe will be good for Rice and Barnier maintain a continual dialogue over several key the forces of democracy." 4 Profil issues, including the revitalization of the Middle East peace process. While in Washington, Barnier spoke with the media, including National Parks The United States and France are in particular collaborating to help The Washington Post and CNN. During an interview with CNN's Économie / Science Lebanon recover its full sovereignty, and the two nations spearhead- Wolf Blitzer, he emphasized his desire to reinvigorate the French- 5 ed the passage of a U.N. resolution last year on the withdrawal of American relationship. "We are in a new stage, a new phase. There Stock Market for Syrian forces from Lebanon. At the end of their press conference are a lot of challenges that we need to face. There are a lot of reasons Small Businesses together, the French foreign minister and the U.S. secretary of state why we must work together while showing mutual respect for each 6 Société released a joint statement calling for the end of any "residual" Syrian other on both sides of the Atlantic. We will not achieve peace in the Citizenship Guide presence in Lebanon and pledging to assist Lebanon. Middle East without one another. We will not win the war against During the conference, Rice referred to the forthcoming referen- poverty, terror, without standing shoulder to shoulder." He added 7 Culture dum on the E.U. constitution in France (see our article on page 2) that "just as Americans need a strong Europe to stand by them, we New Home for da and noted that "the United States has been, from the very beginning, need a strong America that respects us and trusts us." l l Vinci’s Mona Lisa 8 Chez nous Soulages Expo France Held in High Regard in New York CCORDING TO a recently released survey covering 23 large militaries and have recently used them in a prominent way, the countries, the country whose influence in world affairs is U.S. and Russia, are more often seen as having a negative influence. Amost highly regarded is France. Twenty out of 23 countries While trade might buy you love, guns clearly do not." surveyed had solid majorities (averaging 58 percent) in favor of The poll of 23,518 people was conducted by PIPA and by the AMBASSADE DE FRANCE France and its global influ- polling firm GlobeScan. For more information, please visit AUX ETATS-UNIS ence, with an average of only www.pipa.org. l l 20 percent having a neg- ative opinion of actions A380 SOARS SILENTLY ON SUCCESSFUL MAIDEN FLIGHT taken by the French The largest passenger airliner government. The coun- ever built made its maiden voy- try with the most posi- age from Toulouse, France, on tive perception of April 28. Just before 10:30 a.m., French foreign policy is the Airbus A380 started its engines (which produce as much Germany with 77 per- thrust as 3,500 cars on take-off) cent, followed by Italy and 34 seconds later, the four- with 73 percent, and engine, double-deck plane was China and South Korea, airborne, accompanied by the each with 72 percent. applause of more than 30,000 The study also found that 20 out of 23 countries feel that it onlookers. At the completion of would be mainly positive if Europe became more influential in the four-hour test flight, chief test pilot Jacques Rosay noted that the plane behaved world affairs. The strongest proponents of this position include "immaculately." "You handle it as you handle a bicycle. It's very, very easy to fly." French the United States' neighbors Mexico, with 66 percent of President Jacques Chirac declared that "a new page in aviation history has been written. It Mexicans favoring a stronger Europe, and Canada (with 63 per- is a magnificent result of European industrial cooperation." The plane is one-third larger than its closest competitor, the Boeing 747, and is built to cent in favor of a more influential E.U.). Over 60 percent of those transport 555 passengers in three different classes, but could fit as many as 800. Capacity surveyed in China, South Africa, Australia and Russia also sub- is not the only revolutionary characteristic of the A380—it is also more quiet and more fuel scribe to this position. efficient than any other large aircraft. Indeed, the dignitaries and journalists present Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy described it as more quiet than the small chase plane that accompanied it during its maid- Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland, explains that en flight. The A380 was designed to consume less fuel, relatively speaking, than a compact "Europe and China, which have engaged the world primarily car: it requires only four-fifths of a gallon to carry one passenger 100 miles. Airbus has through economic relations, or soft power, are widely seen as hav- already received 154 orders for the plane, and needs about 300 in all to break even. ing a mostly positive influence, while the countries that have very For more information, please visit www.airbus.com. 1 En bref current events L’ÉVÉNEMENT DEPORTATIONS COMMEMORATED Over a thousand representatives and government officials gathered on April Chirac Calls for a Yes Vote 24 at the Human Rights Square over- Chirac intervened to encourage voters to say yes on the E.U. constitution on May 29 looking the Eiffel Tower to commemo- rate the tens of thousands of Jews, political dissidents, homosexuals, RENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC the international stage. Chirac stated that France's future lies in a Gypsies and resistance fighters who appeared on French television on April 14 to urge the strong, united Europe, "We do not defend our interests alone. We were deported to Nazi concentration electorate to vote "yes" in the upcoming referendum on can only defend them collectively and if Europe is united." camps during World War II. Jacques the European constitution The European constitution Chirac, the first president to acknowl- Fafter several polls indicated a possible seeks to reinforce European coop- edge France's responsibility in the victory of the "no" vote. Chirac decid- eration and to give the E.U. a more deportation of Jews during the war, ed to address the issue of the E.U. con- unified voice in matters of foreign presided over this annual day of stitution, which will be submitted to a policy, particularly by creating the remembrance (which he instituted vote on May 29, in front of an audi- positions of president and foreign several years ago) to honor the "vic- ence of 80 youths from across France. minister. Chirac also remarked tims and heroes" of this terrible tragedy. Chirac reaffirmed the contin- President Chirac strongly argued that the constitution, which is ued importance of the fight against in favor of the constitution, urging founded on humanist values, sets racism and anti-Semitism, and called the French "not to be afraid" of goals and standards that will ben- for never-ending vigilance. Europe. Chirac warned about the set- President Jacques Chirac (left) and TF1 anchor efit France, by for instance making back a French rejection of the text Patrick Poivre d'Arvor (right)face the audience full employment a priority. would represent and highlighted the importance of the The constitution must be ratified, either by referen- European Union for France. He said that rejecting the constitu- dum or by parliamentary vote, by the 25 members of the tion would halt Europe's development as a unified power, which Union. So far Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Spain in turn would weaken France's ability to make its voice heard on and Greece have successfully ratified the text. l l For more information, or to send donations: Saudi Arabian crown prince Students Without Borders Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (left) spent 84, rue Vergniaud Web: www.etudessansfrontieres.org 75013 Paris, France Email: [email protected] April 13-15 in France to discuss eco- N A WORLD WHERE secondary education has nomic, cultural, and anti-terrorist become increasingly important, 20 French university full support to the project. The organization also contacted Air ties with President Jacques Chirac. Istudents have come together to offer those less fortunate France, which offered the students free air travel to France. The a chance to benefit from an education in France. Etudes organization is entirely nonprofit and funded by donations. FRANCE, GERMANY BOOST Sans Frontières (Students Without Borders) sent Chechen Donations and political support from Jack Lang, the for- INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION In order to maintain a technological students to school in Paris this year to escape the war zone mer minister of culture and Bernard Kouchner, the founder of edge against rising international compe- in their homeland.