Toronto Star: Outgoing Chrétien feted in France

[Kolesar]

STAR STORY
BY BRUCE CHEADLE
ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS — French President Jacques Chirac gave Jean Chrétien an exceptionally warm retirement send-off today, calling Canada's departing prime minister a "prestigious and exceptional statesman" and saying Canada-France relations have never been better.

At an opulent state dinner Tuesday evening in the French capital, Chrétien responded in kind.

"It is entirely appropriate to close my 40-year political career here in France, the country where Canada's recorded history began — the history of my Canada," he said in a toast to 136 guests, including about 40 from Canada.

The two leaders, who had locked horns in the past over the question of recognizing a sovereign Quebec, repeatedly referred to their common ideal of a multilateral world. And while the U.S.-led war in Iraq that Chirac and Chrétien both rejected was not publicly mentioned by name, it seemed a common subtext to their remarks.

"We have the same conception of international relations, based on the primacy of the rule of law, respect for human rights and the role of the United Nations," Chirac said in a public speech Tuesday afternoon.

Chrétien, speaking next, said that in the era of globalization, "the strength and influence of a nation are no longer determined by the number of cannons or missiles in its possession.
...snip...

[Mikimouse]

1. Great leaders, great statesmen

Too bad we don't have any of those in power here.

[cprise]

2. What I would have given

...to be there (and to understand them).

:)

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. Canada-France relations have never been better - oh dear

. . I suppose that puts us Canuks on Junior's "sh*t list

. . oh right

. . I furgot

. . We are allready on that list

Or are those BlackHawks on our border for OUR protection ??

Didn't think so

And the BFEE want to fly their weapons over OUR country ??

Right - like OOOPS - sorry Canada - that one fell a wee bit short

Not only is the USA alienating it's overseas "allies"

It's fecking with it's next door "neighbours" !

Time to just build a wall around the USA

- it seems like they don't want to "deal" with anyone except on their own terms

"Feck-em" I say

NO way do I want our country to be like the USA

(well, 'cept I would luv California's weather and beaches)

. (sigh) .