Informal European Union foreign ministers’ meeting (Gymnich) – Press conference given by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs (excerpts)

Brdo, 28 March 2008

(…)

Q. – Do you think President Sarkozy’s visit to Britain has contributed to improving Franco-British relations?

THE MINISTER – (…) Yes, I think it was a great success. I’ve talked to my German colleague, it changes nothing with respect to the necessary entente between France and Germany, but it was an entente which for some was cordiale, amicale and for others formidable [wonderful], at all events brotherly. Entente amicale, entente formidable.

It wasn’t just the use of the Queen’s carriage, trumpets and the splendid uniforms, it was a very political visit. I think its political success lies in our brotherly relations and the extremely sincere speeches which were delivered, especially Nicolas Sarkozy’s before the British Parliament, and also in Gordon Brown’s proposals.

In my meeting with David Miliband, we each, I believe, contributed our experience and our drive. The letter we, British and French together, sent on Russia, for example, was the focus of today’s discussion. We didn’t have to raise the matter, obviously, it was thanks to Dimitrij Rupel and the Slovenian presidency who brought up the subject, but we already had a common line to take on this and on many other issues as well. (…)./.