Wrapping up his Russia tour on Wednesday, French President
Nicolas Sarkozy said progress has been made with President Vladimir
Putin in resolving differences over Iran, but French media said
fundamental differences still exist and Sarkozy maintained a tough
stance on Tehran.
On the eve of his departure to Moscow, Sarkozy said the crisis
arising from the Iranian nuclear program is the most alarming one
in the world today.
"We must do all we can to avoid being locked in a disastrous
alternative: the Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran," he said in
an interview with the Russian daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta.
Compared with his predecessor Jacques Chirac, Sarkozy's dealings
with Iran are no longer softened. He summoned his top diplomats in
an Aug. 27 meeting to outline his new foreign policy blueprint,
including the non-acceptance of a nuclear-armed Iran.
Highlighting his foreign policies over such hot international
issues as Iran's nuclear question is also important for an
ambitious Sarkozy who aspires to uplift France's role in the
international arena, analysts said.
France and Iran have long held differences in many issues in the
Middle East. Iran's alleged support for Hezbollah has affected
France's interests in Lebanon.
A tougher stance on Tehran is also perceived as a signal of
shoring up ties with the United States. Since taking power, Sarkozy
has streamlined France's foreign policies toward sharing more
common stands with Washington on major international affairs.
In August, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, the first top
French official to touch Iraqi soil since the US-led invasion
in2003, paid a surprise visit to Iraq to demonstrate "France's
willingness to play a role in the region."
The visit reflected the French government's willingness to mend
ties with the US four years after the start of the Iraq war, which
was not popular with ex-president Chirac.
President Sarkozy is also seeing closer French involvement in
NATO. He set the tone with a keynote foreign policy speech in
August insisting the North Atlantic alliance was no rival to
France's ambition of a robust European Union defense
capability.
Analysts said that Paris might be considering reversing the 1966
decision by General Charles de Gaulle to pull out of NATO's
integrated military command.
Through applying more pressure on Iran and enhancing links with
the US and NATO, analysts said Sarkozy is seeking to steer France
toward a more important role in the international arena.
(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2007)
