Chirac's way or the highway?

[Ronn_Bman]

CNN story from February 18th found here. Chirac lashes out at 'new Europe' BRUSSELS, Belgium -- French President Jacques Chirac has attacked eastern European countries hoping to join the EU, saying they missed a great opportunity to "shut up" when they signed letters backing the U.S. position on Iraq. France has been a leading voice against Washington's press for war in Iraq to disarm President Saddam Hussein and is insisting weapons inspectors in the country be given more time. But 13 countries either set to join the EU or in membership talks have signed letters supporting the United States. Chirac said: "These countries have been not very well behaved and rather reckless of the danger of aligning themselves too rapidly with the American position." "It is not really responsible behavior. It is not well brought-up behavior. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet." "I felt they acted frivolously because entry into the European Union implies a minimum of understanding for the others," Chirac said. Chirac called the letters "infantile" and "dangerous," adding: "They missed a great opportunity to shut up." Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, all of whom have dates for EU membership, joined EU members Britain, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Portugal in signing a letter last month supporting Washington's stance on Iraq. Ten other eastern European nations -- eight with entry dates and Romania and Bulgaria who are still in membership discussions -- signed a similar letter a few days later. "Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible. If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way," Chirac said. When asked why he wasn't similarly critical of the EU nations that signed the letter, Chirac said: "When you are in the family ... you have more rights than when you are asking to join and knocking on the door." CNN European Political Editor Robin Oakley described Chirac's outburst as "pretty grumpy and imperious." "For him to lecture these applicant countries or these accepted members on their way in was really behavior like the worst of what the French complain about in the United States," Oakley said. "It was bullying really. ... It was very, very tough stuff. I think some of the other EU leaders will feel it was out of order. "But perhaps it shows just how much Jacques Chirac was stunned by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's differentiation between what he calls 'old Europe' and 'new Europe.'" Rumsfeld angered France and Germany when he referred to them as 'old Europe' -- in contrast to the easterners seeking to join the EU and NATO -- in response to Paris and Berlin's stance against any possible war in Iraq. Chirac's words have angered some of those aspirant nations with Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondr saying it appeared Chirac was trying to bully them. And Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld told public radio: "France has a right to its opinion and Poland has the right to decide what is good for it. France should respect that." European Commission President Romano Prodi said he was saddened rather than angry with the candidates because their pro-Americanism was a signal they had failed to understand that the EU is more than a mere economic union. "I would be lying it I said I was happy," he told reporters. "I have been very, very sad, but I am also patient by nature, so I hope they will understand that sharing the future means sharing the future." The EU decided last December to admit 10 new members to the 15-nation bloc. The parliaments of the current EU members still have to ratify the decision that will see Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta join in May 2004. On Tuesday, leaders of the EU aspirants traveled to Brussels for a briefing on Iraq and endorsed Monday night's joint declaration by EU leaders. (Full story) The candidates were upset over not being invited to Brussels for Monday's emergency summit on Iraq. Britain and Spain had sought to have the candidates invited to Monday's summit, but France and Germany opposed the idea. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, denied they had been excluded from the summit because of their backing for Washington, insisting rules require the accession treaties be signed first.

[Ronn_Bman]

Entire story is here. Chirac warned the candidates that their position could be "dangerous" because the EU's decision to accept 10 new members in 2004 still had to be ratified by existing members. He said Romania and Bulgaria - currently due to join the EU in 2007 - could not have chosen a better way to spoil their chances of joining the club.

Chirac seems to find those who oppose his view "not very well behaved", "rather reckless", "not really reasonable", "frivolous", "infantile", and "dangerous".

He thinks they missed the "chance to shut up", but I think he's the one who missed the chance.

[Ronn_Bman]

Thanks to Dexterome the Orphan for finding and first posting these articles at Mel and Groj's place, Pandemonium.

[ 02-26-2003, 10:54 AM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]

[the new JR Jansen]

i agree with you on this one. He shouldn't have said that. I think that he was a bit annoyed by the statements of Rumsfeld, not only the one about old Europe but also the one that he made towards the 'NATO rebels' comparing them to Lybia and Cuba, and that therefor he made these comments. But he definately shouldn't have done that.

[Moiraine]

Of course he shouldn't have said that. This comment was no better than previous comments accusing the "old Europe" of being ungrateful.

[Iron_Ranger]

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that every responce in this thread is going to be along the lines of-

'Sure Chirac shouldnt have said that..But (insert US Offcial) shoudlnt have said (insert statement) either.' ?

[the new JR Jansen]

Originally posted by Iron_Ranger: Is it just me or does anyone else feel that every responce in this thread is going to be along the lines of- 'Sure Chirac shouldnt have said that..But (insert US Offcial) shoudlnt have said (insert statement) either.' ?

You should not look at it like that. At least that was not what i meant. I don't want to sugar coat Chirac's statement. I just gave a possible explanation why he might have said that.

Having some long toes today ?

[johnny]

Chirac acts like a little child that just saw his toys taken away. I'm not sure but i have a feeling he sees himself as Europe's nr.1 leader.

[Djinn Raffo]

Well it sounds like Chirac is saying something along the lines of: you are either with him or against him!

[Moiraine]

Originally posted by Iron_Ranger: Is it just me or does anyone else feel that every responce in this thread is going to be along the lines of- 'Sure Chirac shouldnt have said that..But (insert US Offcial) shoudlnt have said (insert statement) either.' ?

What is there more to say ? Chirac has said something he shouldn't have, so has Bush. No, will we hold grudges or can we move on ? There is so much more at stake than counting points and nursing bruised egos. That's what the Eastern countries involved said, BTW.

I posted because I am French and honest, to say Chirac has no excuse for having said that. This doesn't however change the fact that I support France's position about the situation on Iraq. Why should it ?