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| Europe | |
| Chirac blasts eastern Europeans over pro-American stance | |
| 2003-02-17 | |
| French President Jacques Chirac launched a withering attack Monday on eastern European nations who signed letters backing the U.S. position on Iraq, warning it could jeopardize their chances of joining the European Union. You know Jacq, there is such a thing as over playing your hand. "It is not really responsible behavior," he told a news conference. "It is not well brought up behavior. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet." oops, thats a dead giveaway isnt it. Chirac was angered when EU candidates Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined pro-U.S. EU members such as Britain, Spain and Italy last month in a letter supporting Washington's line on Iraq against the more dovish stance of France and Germany. Paris was further upset when 10 other eastern European nations signed a similar letter a few days later.
Right back atcha, froggy. He warned the candidates the position could be "dangerous" because the parliaments of the 15 EU nations still have to ratify last December's decision for 10 new members to join the bloc on May 1, 2004. Well thats a tough one, how do you effectively threaten countries that have been occupied by the soviet union for 40 years? Not a whole lot of arrows in that quiver, i'd think. Chirac particularly warned Romania and Bulgaria, who are still negotiating to enter the bloc in 2007. I think they just got a better offer from another team. "Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible to sign the letter when their position is really delicate," Chirac said. "If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way." Join Europe or the "New World". Join "Winners" or "Perennial Losers", The "NY Yankees" or the "Paris Frogs", what to do, what to do, Decisions, Decisions.... Britain, Spain and other EU nations had suggested the candidate nations attend Monday's emergency summit on Iraq, but France and Germany opposed the idea. Although Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were the driving forces behind the letter backing America and EU members Italy, Denmark and Portugal also signed up, Chirac saved his wrath for the candidates. "When you're in the family you have more rights than when you're knocking on the door," he said. But when its the "Addams Family", who wants to stand next to Uncle Fester.(Chirac and Fenster are clearly spearated-at-birth) Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta are set to join in May 2004. Lagging behind economically, Romania and Bulgaria were told to wait three more years. Instead of attending the EU summit, the candidates are due to travel to Brussels Tuesday for a briefing on its outcome by Greece, which currently holds the EU presidency. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis denied they had been excluded from the summit because of their backing for Washington, insisting rules require the treaties be signed first. "We will not discuss pro-American or anti-American positions," Simitis told a news conference. "The candidate countries will be members" soon, and "we have to proceed together." First thing on the EU agenda should be to tell France to shut the hell up. France seems to be of the opinion that everyone in Europe should be in the EU, but only people who speak French should have any say in what is done. Chirac is writing checks with his mouth that his ass can't cash. | |
| Posted by:Frank Martin |
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| Posted by: Tom 2003-02-17 21:31:16 |
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