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It looks like Bush isn't the only one ....
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View this Thread in Original format
| occrider |
that says stupid things ...
Chirac lashes out at 'new Europe'
Tuesday, February 18, 2003 Posted: 10:06 AM EST (1506 GMT)
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. |
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| Izzy |
who's calling who a bully?
hehe |
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| IronDragon |
| quote: | Originally posted by Izzy
who's calling who a bully?
hehe |
Exactly. For shame that Chirac resorts to such petty tactics. |
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| cycloptor |
| what im wondering is what intrests in iraq does france want to protect so badly. you cant tell me for a minute that there isnt any... i highly doubt its oil though, thats mostly russian intrest. my theory is arms. they have sold them to iraq in the past, perhaps they helpd rebuild the airforce or something (pure speculation on my part mind you) but still... |
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| occrider |
| quote: | Originally posted by cycloptor
what im wondering is what intrests in iraq does france want to protect so badly. you cant tell me for a minute that there isnt any... i highly doubt its oil though, thats mostly russian intrest. my theory is arms. they have sold them to iraq in the past, perhaps they helpd rebuild the airforce or something (pure speculation on my part mind you) but still... |
Yea really ... you hear a million and one American conspiracy theories, how about some french ones :rolleyes: |
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| cycloptor |
| well look...i know im reaching with the example i gave (i only used that because i know that iraq has mirage fighters and french anti aircraft missles). but in all honestly, would you be defending a country like iraq if you did not have vested intrests in it? |
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| occrider |
| quote: | Originally posted by cycloptor
well look...i know im reaching with the example i gave (i only used that because i know that iraq has mirage fighters and french anti aircraft missles). but in all honestly, would you be defending a country like iraq if you did not have vested intrests in it? |
No I actually agree with you ... I'm just surprised how there aren't any french conspiracy theories since so many people talk about America having alterior motives. Jesus it's like the rest of the world is mother theresa all of a sudden. |
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| cycloptor |
| sorry, i misunderstood, the little smily icon threw me as to what exactly you were referring to. it is a little bit odd though about everyone else trying to wash their hands of this and shift attention away from why they want what they do (hope that makes sense...im very tired) |
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| arj1o1 |
some guy at the dutc television was telling some days ago:
1american people are boycotting french products already.
2are the european people forgottten how we helped them in WWII?
1can't believe this, american people on the forum is this real?
2think that after WWII was made clear that nobody wants such war again so why should we help the US |
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| biznology |
| quote: | Originally posted by arj1o1
some guy at the dutc television was telling some days ago:
1american people are boycotting french products already.
2are the european people forgottten how we helped them in WWII?
1can't believe this, american people on the forum is this real?
2think that after WWII was made clear that nobody wants such war again so why should we help the US |
ok, first of all im not really sure what anything you said refers to. as 'boycotting' french products - which ones? french autos have been notoriously unsuccessful in the US, but i think thats due to lousy marketing/products in the 70s/80s. french cosmetics have always been popular, we have benneton here as well - tho most Americans wont justify paying a load for pastel clothing.
as for whether the US citizens on this forum being real? thats an illogical question...do all the people from holland on these boards use lots of drugs?!?:rolleyes:
so you are saying that people in eastern europe should recognize your 'help' in ww2, but the US deserves no such respect when they 'helped' EVERYONE during ww2- except the Germans of course|
i find it odd that a thread like this attacking the US would get 5 pages of replies, yet a thread discussing french politics gets little if nothing, and mostly N American responses... |
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| tiesto14 |
| quote: | Originally posted by biznology
i find it odd that a thread like this attacking the US would get 5 pages of replies, yet a thread discussing french politics gets little if nothing, and mostly N American responses... |
Biz that actually surprises you.....you should know now that 95% of TA is anti-American. |
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| biznology |
| quote: | Originally posted by tiesto14
Biz that actually surprises you.....you should know now that 95% of TA is anti-American. |
i never said i was surprised, i was just trying to point out a bit of hypocrisy.
i would also not venture to say that 95% of TA is anti-US(since the American label is touchy and gets thrown around a lot). on a personal level i dont think anyone on TA would be anti you or anti me. the impersonality of the internet, and the relatively little *real* information anyone knows or learns about others on the internet or TA confounds this aspect.
people get angry at avatars, sigs, five lines of text or a preconceived notion...doesnt mean they are anti-US in any specific way. sure, maybe some people would be willing to step up and say in NO way do they like, respect, condone, or understand anything american/US- but i would seriously doubt it| |
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