Blair et Villepin sur un air d'entente cordiale

Lors d’une visite à Londres, le premier ministre français Dominique de Villepin s’est efforcé de minimiser la portée des récents désaccords franco-britanniques, tout en proposant à son hôte le renforcement de la coopération entre les deux pays dans le domaine de la lutte contre le terrorisme.  

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin agreed on 25 July to exchange lists of wanted terrorists and to share information on suspects and intelligence data. They also agreed to work together to stem the spread of radicalism in the British and French Muslim communities, to exchange information on radical clerics and on the protection of high-profile terrorist targets. 

In a display of new friendliness, Villepin seemed eager to turn the page on the recent Anglo-French clash over the EU budget at the EU’s June summit: « I want to express to you, Tony, and to all the British people, the solidarity and friendship of the French people, » he said, adding that both countries were ready to work to achieve real progress on the stalled budget negotiations.  

Commenting on the roots of terrorism, Villepin said: « We saw [it] in Bosnia, in Afghanistan, in Chechnya, and today in Iraq, we have seen the creation of chaotic environments that allow terrorism to flourish. »