Sarkozy’s campaign speech on foreign policy

Nicolas Sarkozy delivered an official speech on foreign policy today, March 28, in Paris. Here are the main highlights :

• Europe : Priority should be given to the institutional crises opened by the French and Dutch referenda. Sarkozy proposes a “simplified treaty whose aim will not be the re-foundation of a political Europe. Its aim will be to come back to a proper functioning of European institutions.”

• Transatlantic relations :  About friendship between the U.S. and Europe: “friendship is about respect, understanding, affection, but not submission. I want a free France, a free Europe. I am asking our American friends to let us free, free to be their friends.”

• Iran : “A nuclear Iran is not an option.” Sanctions should be reinforced, but “clash of civilization” should be avoided.

• Middle East : “I put an equality sign between Israel’s right for security - the Israel as created by the UN - and the Palestinians right to have their own viable state.” “Israel’s reaction in the lebanese tragedy was disproportionate.”

• Russia : Human rights violations (especially in Chechnya) should be condemned.

• Africa : Reduction of French military presence, “which should be limited to the minimum the day the African Union will be able to act by itself strategically and militarily on the continent.”

 - UN : Sarkozy is in favor of an enlarged UN permanent Security Council (Germany, India, Japan, Brazil, Africa, and Latin America as potential members)

This entry was posted by Amaya Bloch-Lainé on Wednesday, February 28th, 2007 at 11:48 am and is filed under French Politics.

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