FRANCE: French President Jacques Chirac said in a newspaper interviewyesterday that Britain has gained nothing from its support for the United States-led invasion of Iraq.
President Chirac said he had urged Britain before the invasion to press President Bush to revive the Middle East peace process in return for London's support.
"Well, Britain gave its support but I did not see much in return," President Chirac was quoted as saying in the Times. "I am not sure that it is in the nature of our American friends at the moment to return favours systematically."
President Chirac, who will hold talks with Mr Blair when he makes a state visit to Britain tomorrow, recalled a Franco-British summit last year when he asked his British counterpart to try to influence US policy on the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the French Foreign Minister, Mr Michael Barnier, said following the resignation of US Secretary of State Colin Powell there was a need for Europe and the United States to build strong transatlantic ties.
Mr Barnier praised Powell, despite their countries' differences over the Iraq war. But he declined direct comment on the expected appointment of national security adviser Dr Condoleezza Rice to replace him.