BLOG

Victorious Sarkozy pledges unity

2007-05-07T08:23:16+02:00

France's new President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy has called for unity after a bitterly-contested campaign.
The conservative won a clear victory over his socialist rival Segolene Royal, gaining 53% of the vote with a massive 85% turnout.

Mr Sarkozy said the French people had chosen change and he would use the mandate he had received to achieve it.

After the result was announced, there were minor clashes with protestors in Paris and some other cities.

Several hundred rioters in the Place de la Bastille threw bottles and stones at police, shouting "Sarko-fascist".

Two police officers were injured in Nantes, where 1,000 demonstrators turned violent. Arrests were made in half-a-dozen cities, but the violence soon subsided.

'Work and morality'

Mr Sarkozy, 52, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, won enemies as interior minister for his harsh condemnation of rioters during urban unrest two years ago.

France has given me everything, and now it is my turn to give back to France what France has given me

Nicolas Sarkozy

Sarkozy victory speech
Washington relief at win

Now set to take over from 74-year-old President Jacques Chirac, he struck a conciliatory tone in his victory speech.

"Above and beyond the political fight... for me there is only once France. I will be president of all the French," he said.

"France has given me everything, and now it is my turn to give back to France what France has given me," he said.

He said the US could count on France's friendship, but urged Washington to take a lead in the fight against climate change.

Toulouse was one of a number of cities hit by unrest

He called on North African nations to join Europe in a Mediterranean Union, saying that France intended to help Africa conquer disease, famine, poverty and war.

Mr Sarkozy said he believed deeply in European integration, but appealed to France's partners to understand the importance of social protection.

"[Voters] have chosen to break with the habits and the ideals of the past so I will rehabilitate work, authority, morality, respect, merit," he said.

After he finished speaking at his party headquarters, jubilant supporters sang a rousing rendition of the French national anthem.

Third defeat

Hope for renewal in defeat

Ms Royal is the first woman ever to have made it to the second round of a French presidential election.

Conceding defeat - the third in a row for France's Socialist Party - she thanked 17m French people for their votes, saying she could measure their sadness and their pain.

"I gave it all my energy, and will continue," she told supporters. "Something has risen up that will not stop."

HAVE YOUR SAY
I'd like to say congratulations and good luck to President elect Sarkozy

Eric Loadman, USA

Send us your comments
Royal v Sarkozy: Policies

She expressed the hope that "the next president of the Republic" would accomplish his mission at the service of all the French people.

Mr Sarkozy has promised to try to reform France to face the challenges of the 21st century, with putting the nation back to work at the top of his agenda.

He has pledged to bring unemployment down from 8.3% to below 5% by 2012.

He is also expected to bring forward policies to cut taxes and keep trains running during strikes, in the first 100 days after he takes office on 16 May.

BBC.com

Comments

Egypt hosts key Iraq conference

2007-05-03T06:42:29+02:00

A major international conference aimed at bringing stability and economic recovery to Iraq is to open in Egypt.
Two days of talks will bring together diplomats from wealthy nations and regional powers in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Delegates are to endorse a five-year International Compact for Iraq (ICI), giving support in exchange for reforms.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has not ruled out side talks with the Iranian and Syrian foreign ministers.

The two meetings - the international conference, which will be held on Friday, and the ICI meeting - will be "parallel but independent", Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said last month.

Representatives of Iraq's neighbours, including Iran and Syria, as well as of the G8 and EU are due to attend.

'Honest dialogue'

The presence of high-level diplomats from the US, Iran and Syria has sparked speculation of possible talks between them on the sidelines.

I think I can handle any question that is asked of me

Condoleezza Rice
US secretary of state

Q&A: Sharm el-Sheikh conferences
Tough issues in Egypt
Ms Rice said she would not avoid an exchange with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki should it happen.

"I think I can handle any question that is asked of me," she said.

"If we encounter each other and wander to other subjects I am prepared to address them at least in terms of American policy."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he would welcome "honest dialogue" with the US in Egypt.

But he warned that it would be a "mistake" for the US to think negotiations would result in Iran scaling back its nuclear programme when sanctions and diplomatic pressure have not yielded results.

Such a meeting would mark the first bilateral talks between the two countries' top diplomats since the United States cut relations in 1980.

There has been little contact between them ever since the Iranian revolution and the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Outside 'meddling'

But the open question is whether even holding direct talks will lead to America and Iran coming to any sort of agreement, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale, who is travelling with Ms Rice.

The Bush administration still accuses Iran of meddling inside neighbouring Iraq - a charge Iran has strongly denied - and Washington refuses to discuss Iran's nuclear programme until Tehran suspends its uranium enrichment.

The US also charges Syria with allowing foreign fighters to enter Iraq through the long border between the two neighbours - something Damascus denies.

A senior US diplomat said he was optimistic something positive would emerge from the presence of the American, Iranian and Syrian foreign ministers at the talks.

"That meeting will be important because Secretary Rice will be seated around a table with the Syrian foreign minister, and we hope and think with the Iranian foreign minister," said US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns.

Despite the invitation of Syria and Iran, there will still be notable absences, such as the leaders of the Shia militia who have not been invited, our correspondent adds.

International Compact

Friday's conference is preceded by Thursday's meeting attended by about 60 countries to endorse the UN-sponsored ICI plan.

"The goal of the International Compact with Iraq is not only to reduce Iraq's debt, but also to obtain support for the political and democratic process, as well as support in the battle against terrorism," Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said.

The preparatory process on the ICI began last year at the initiative of the Iraqi government to establish a partnership with the international community.

This process has been co-chaired by Iraq and the UN through the UN special adviser on the ICI and other political issues, Ibrahim Gambari. It is supported by the World Bank.

bbc.com

Comments

AC Milan 3-0 Man Utd

2007-05-03T05:40:43+02:00

AC Milan will face Liverpool in the Champions League final after crushing Manchester United at the San Siro.

Milan started the semi-final 3-2 down but were ahead on away goals after just 11 minutes when Clarence Seedorf headed down for Kaka to drill into the corner.

Seedorf capitalised on confusion in the United defence to fire in a second after half an hour.

And substitute Alberto Gilardino broke away to wrap up an easy win as United limped out in disappointing fashion.

By Caroline Cheese
www.BBC.com

Comments