Chirac: Intervention OK, with UN Approval

There's a great irony here. It is plain to see that France fancies itself the leader of the free world and not just of popular culture, fashion, and food. It is only from the bully pupit of the United Nations that France (through Chirac) reigns supreme over her empire of third-rate dictatorships and nearly failed states. Isn't it amazing how much influence nuclear technology can get you?

Britain is as important to France as Germany, says Chirac
By Times Online

Jacques Chirac told Oxford students today that France's relations with Britain were as important to it as its ties with Germany, despite recent disagreements over the war in Iraq.

Wrapping up a two-day visit to the UK, Chirac also defended the right to intervene in the internal affairs of other sovereign states, for security or humanitarian reasons - but only with United Nations’ backing.

"Do not allow yourselves to be taken in," the French President told Oxford University students when asked if the Franco-German axis in Europe had now replaced the Entente Cordiale, the end of colonial rivalry between London and Paris 100 years ago.

"Our relationship with Great Britain is as important as our relationship with Germany," he said."Friendship is always progress. It’s not a substitute, it’s an addition."

Britain and France have had what M. Chirac referred to as a "stormy love affair", locking horns on issues from European agricultural subsidies to the Iraq war.

Anti-war comments by M. Chirac in the run-up to his visit to Britain had threatened to sour talks with Tony Blair but the two have tried to put their differences behind them.

In a public show of unity, M. Chirac pledged full cooperation on the Middle East, Africa and climate change when Britain heads the G8 group of rich nations and the European Union in
2005.

"Even if in our history, and in our recent history, we have had different points of view, it is very clear that this is mere froth on the surface. The reality is that there is a deep and friendly understanding between Britain and France," he said.

Britons had saved some French villages from extinction, he said, with some half a million owning houses in France. Taking questions for 50 minutes in French, M. Chirac said war was always the "worst solution" but he defended the theory of intervention.

"I support the right to intervene for reasons of security or human rights, but only within the framework of international law, which is expressed today by the UN", he said.

M. Chirac also urged reform of the UN Security Council to become more representative of "today’s world", backing a permanent place for Germany, Japan, India, Brazil and a large African country like South Africa or Nigeria. He said he supported a council of 20 to 25 members and was in favour of more non-permanent members.