Britain Welcomes Sarkozy`s Speech

French President Nicolas Sarkozy made a speech to both houses of the U.K. Parliament on March 26 during his first state visit to London and emphasized new brotherhood between the two countries.

In his speech, Sarkozy said, “I believe, for the French and British peoples to carry out a profoundly political act: to put behind us our old rivalries so as to build a future in which we will be stronger because we are together." He also said, "We can’t build a prosperous, democratic, efficient Europe without the U.K. If we want to change Europe, my dear British friends, we need you."

This is a quite different atmosphere compared to two years ago when former President Jacques Chirac left the EU summit meeting, outraged as a French businessman delivered a speech in English. He also said in 2005 that he cannot trust British people as their food is terrible, after France lost to its neighbor in a bid to host the Olympic Games.

Sarkozy will begin chairing the EU in July until the end of the year. He asked more cooperation from Britain, a key ally of the United States.

He received a round of applause when he said he would announce in the NATO summit meeting that he would increase French troops in Afghanistan to alleviate the burden of the British army.

The French president had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates Stadium on March 27.

France’s new First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was attracting as much, if not more, attention as her husband during the two day visit. Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy, a former super model, in an elegant grey Christian Dior outfit with a matching beret, captivated British people.

The Daily Mirror printed her picture on its first page on March 27 with the headline that says "as long as Sarkozy comes with Bruni, he will always be welcomed." The newspaper also printed Bruni’s nude picture. The auction house Christie’s is to sell photographs of former model Bruni-Sarkozy, taken by photographer Michel Comte in 1993, in New York next month.

The Daily Telegraph said in its column on the fist page, “Miss Bruni looked as demure as a convent girl.” The headline of this newspaper was “Nicolas Sarkozy arrives but we all love Carla.”

pisong@donga.com