Solana rejects Chirac criticism on EU Lebanon role
MARK BEUNDERMAN
01.09.2006 @ 16:23 CET
EUOBSERVER / LAPPEENRANTA - EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has brushed off criticism by French president Jacques Chirac on the EU's handling of the Lebanon crisis, saying the bloc responded in a "fantastic manner."
Mr Chirac earlier this week made some critical remarks, saying the EU had failed to give Mr Solana, the bloc's top diplomat, a stronger mandate to intervene in the violence between Israel and Hezbollah.
"Europe was insufficiently active in the Lebanese crisis, although France had recommended on a number of occasions that the high representative be given a mandate to speak out on behalf of the 25 member countries, as he is doing on the Iranian issue," the French president stated.
Asked what he thought about Mr Chirac's strong words, Mr Solana said arriving at an EU foreign ministers' meeting in the Finnish town of Lappeenranta that "this question should be asked of France."
"The EU as a whole has responded in a fantastic manner. In a very short period of time, we have provided large numbers of troops which are at the heart of the UN force," he stated.
The EU last week reached agreement on contributing around 7,000 troops to a new UN peacekeeping force in the region.
Mr Solana referred to UN secretary-general Kofi Annan being "very grateful" for the EU's efforts, with Mr Annan making clear that the last 11 August UN resolution which produced a ceasefire came about largely because of EU engagement.
"We should be proud of that," said Mr Solana.
French grumpiness
Foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja of Finland, which currently holds the EU presidency, also distanced himself from Paris, telling journalists "Mr Solana's role is clear. He has always had the mandate to implement the policies of the EU agreed in the council [the EU member states' decision-making body]."
Asked about France's grumpiness, he said "In every member state there are of course national considerations and difficulties," adding it is "natural" for national capitals to "put some of the onus" on the EU.
Mr Tuomioja said he is "relatively satisfied with the way the EU was able to handle the Lebanon crisis."
Helsinki last month clashed with Paris, sending a very muted response to a letter by Mr Chirac demanding a stronger role for Mr Solana in the Middle East.
One EU official said Paris' call for a greater Solana role was about a "non issue" as Mr Solana had traveled to the Middle East more than once at the height of the Lebanon crisis, adding that Mr Chirac's dissatisfaction might be related to its own trauma over the failure of the French referendum on the EU constitution.
Dutch foreign minister Bernard Bot signaled surprise over Mr Chirac's comments before the Lappeenranta talks, saying he would ask his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy "what France means" by its criticism.
