The Hindu : International : Backing Bush won U.K. no reward, says Chirac

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

International

International

Backing Bush won U.K. no reward, says Chirac

By Jon Henley, Amelia Gentleman and Michael White— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

PARIS/LONDON, NOV. 16. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the French President, Jacques Chirac, clashed openly last night over the future course of Europe's relationship with the United States as the former insisted they must work together for world peace and the latter suggested it is increasingly pointless.

Mr. Chirac, speaking ahead of his state visit to London, said Britain had gained nothing in return for supporting the U.S. over Iraq and that he did not think ``it is in the nature of our American friends today'' to pay back favours.

``I'm not sure, the U.S. being what it is today, whether it is possible for anyone, even the British, to play the role of the friendly go-between,'' he said.

Contradiction

Mr. Chirac's words came in direct contradiction to Mr. Blair, who insisted last night that Europe needed to work with America and could help shape its policies. Mr. Blair used a keynote speech in the Guildhall in London to warn Europe to stop ``ridiculing American arguments and parodying their political leadership'' and to concentrate on persuading Washington that ``terrorism won't be beaten by toughness alone''.

But Mr. Chirac said Britain's special relationship with the U.S. had brought few dividends. ``You should obtain in exchange for it a new start for the peace process in the Middle East. Because that is vital. Well, Britain gave its support (on Iraq) — but I have not been impressed by the payback.''

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