Obama-Sarkozy: The Disagreements Multiply
Published in Le Nouvel Observateur
(France) on 5 June 2009
by Vincent Jauvert (link to original)
The disagreements continue to pile up between Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama, who arrives in Paris in only a few hours.
After numerous debates about Turkey’s entry into the EU, sending additional troops to Afghanistan, and rebooting the world economy, the Cairo speech has become a new wound the Franco-American relationship will suffering from.
Yesterday, the American President took two positions that, to the Elysee, came across as two provocations against France’s internal policies and legislation.
First, significant differences of opinion arose regarding the veil, which is forbidden in our public schools since a March 2004 law promoted by then-Minister of the Interior, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Barack Obama boly declared: “it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit -- for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.”
He added, “I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal.”
Discussion regarding nuclear proliferation also ruffled feathers between the American President and his French counterpart- nuclear power is at the heart of French military doctrine.
Obama openly made the “commitment to a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.”
This is not new; the U.S. President made his position clear on a previous visit to Prague, but it was hoped by Paris that he would not so soon return – and in this way – to the question.
And there’s also the diplomatic imbroglio surrounding the ceremonies for the 65th anniversary of the Normandy Landing.
Not only has the White House, officially, pressured France to invite the Queen of England, but, if one believes this morning’s Le Figaro, officials will not release Barack Obama’s schedule until the very last minute.
One can only console oneself by reading the New York Times.
According to the American daily, relations between Obama and Merkel are even worse…
After numerous debates about Turkey’s entry into the EU, sending additional troops to Afghanistan, and rebooting the world economy, the Cairo speech has become a new wound the Franco-American relationship will suffering from.
Yesterday, the American President took two positions that, to the Elysee, came across as two provocations against France’s internal policies and legislation.
First, significant differences of opinion arose regarding the veil, which is forbidden in our public schools since a March 2004 law promoted by then-Minister of the Interior, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Barack Obama boly declared: “it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit -- for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.”
He added, “I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal.”
Discussion regarding nuclear proliferation also ruffled feathers between the American President and his French counterpart- nuclear power is at the heart of French military doctrine.
Obama openly made the “commitment to a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.”
This is not new; the U.S. President made his position clear on a previous visit to Prague, but it was hoped by Paris that he would not so soon return – and in this way – to the question.
And there’s also the diplomatic imbroglio surrounding the ceremonies for the 65th anniversary of the Normandy Landing.
Not only has the White House, officially, pressured France to invite the Queen of England, but, if one believes this morning’s Le Figaro, officials will not release Barack Obama’s schedule until the very last minute.
One can only console oneself by reading the New York Times.
According to the American daily, relations between Obama and Merkel are even worse…
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