FRANCE: Ireland's foreign minister, Dermot Ahern, yesterday described the relaunching of the Irish Embassy here as an indication of the importance of Franco-Irish relations.
Renovation of the embassy took seven months, cost €2.5 million and was overseen by Ambassador Anne Anderson.
"It shows how much we regard the embassy as a gem, and that we regard our ambassador as a gem," the Minister said. "The fact that we have renovated it to a superb level, the fact that Anne would be regarded as one of the top diplomats in our service, shows we want to cultivate and maximise our relationship with France."
At a reception last night, Mr Ahern appeared likely to disappoint members of the Irish community, who complain they cannot vote in Ireland or in France. Ireland is the only EU country that doesn't allow citizens living abroad to vote. A 1997 pre-election policy document issued by Fianna Fáil promised to give expatriate citizens the right to vote.
But the Minister said "there is nothing on the agenda" at present. "The problem is where do you draw the line?" he said. "We have 44 million people who claim to be of Irish descent, and our situation in relation to citizenship has dramatically changed over the years. It is not an easy issue." As an emigrant nation, "it would be a logistical nightmare", he added.
Earlier in the day, Mr Ahern discussed European and international issues with his counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy. He told the French foreign minister that Ireland takes a dim view of proposals floated in France to adopt a "mini-treaty" to establish basic institutional reforms for Europe.
"I explained that we are strong believers in the balance that was reached in the constitutional treaty, that we are not in favour of unravelling it or cherry-picking from it," Mr Ahern said. Ireland was still waiting "for the context in which we could put the referendum to the people", but it was Ireland's view "that this should not go on forever, that we should bring it to some finality in the medium term", that is to say by the end of the French presidency in 2008.
Mr Douste-Blazy raised the issue of Unitaid, President Jacques Chirac's plan to raise money to fight Aids through a tax on airline tickets. "He was aware that we are implacably opposed to airline ticket taxes," Mr Ahern said. "Given the fact that cheap air travel was pioneered in Ireland, and that we have excellent competition in aviation, we would be extremely reluctant to countenance an airline ticket tax." On other questions, there was apparently total agreement. Mr Douste-Blazy told Mr Ahern that China - which he has just visited with President Chirac - and Russia still balk at imposing UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, but that the UN Security Council will have to take a decision "sooner rather than later".
It was an appropriate day to discuss Unifil, since 150 Irish troops arrived in Lebanon yesterday. "I indicated that we had been reluctant to involve our army again in Lebanon, given the fact that we were there for 23 years and suffered considerable fatalities," Mr Ahern said.
Mr Douste-Blazy raised the problem of continuing Israeli violations of Lebanese air space. Gen Alain Pellegrini, the Frenchman in charge of Unifil, has even spoken of firing on Israeli aircraft.
"There are incursions by the Israelis, and they shouldn't be happening," Mr Ahern said.
The ministers share an interest in the Darfur region of Sudan. Mr Ahern ruled out any possibility of Irish involvement there. "It's not as simple as sending in white western troops," he said, advocating expansion of the African Union force Amis. "It would make Iraq look like a picnic."
Both ministers were alarmed by Turkey's non-implementation of the Ankara protocol (which constitutes de facto recognition of Cyprus) and by polls in Turkey showing disillusionment with Europe.
Mr Ahern will receive the chief Turkish negotiator, Ali Babakan, in Dublin next week.
"We are trying to help Turkey join if that's what they desire, but they have to meet the conditions for entry," Mr Ahern said. "Cyprus is a member of the EU. It has to be treated with respect . . . It looks quite difficult from here on in."