France is friends with Latvia again
By Dace Akule
The Iraq crisis is not influencing and will not influence the friendly relationship between Latvia and France, French president Jacques Chirac assured Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga who paid a short visit to Paris on Tuesday.
The Latvian newspaper Diena wrote, "Chirac is a friend again". The Latvian president told the newspaper that "personal friendship and support remain in force".
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Latvia was one of the eight countries which signed the so-called Vilnius Declaration, a document demonstrating solidarity with Washington. (Photo: European Commission Audiovisual Library)
The Latvian paper comments that the meeting was held as if there was no crisis in Iraq.
Latvia was one of the eight countries which signed the so-called Vilnius Declaration, a document demonstrating solidarity with Washington.
That caused heavy criticism in several European countries. At the time President Chirac accused the EU accession states of missing an opportunity to keep their mouths shut.
"But when Chirac and Vike-Freiberga met yesterday, there were smiles, compliments and Chirac again kissed Vike-Freiberga's hand", Diena notes.
The two heads of state discussed the signing and the ratification of the Accession Treaty as well as issues concerning the Future of Europe debate.
President Chirac repeated that France is interested in holding the present form of EU co-operation between big and small EU members.
Ms Vike-Freiberga said her country would not like future EU matters to be decided without the full participation of accession countries.
President Chirac reassured her that France does not want reforms to be hasty.
After meeting the French president, Ms Vike-Freiberga went to Strasbourg to meet the president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox.
