Photo of the pro-American President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, courtesy of The Telegraph
The French president, in his first major speech on foreign policy, made it clear he intends to apply the same energetic approach to French diplomacy as he has to domestic policy since taking office in May. From the Middle East to relations with Russia, the president promised a break with France's traditional Gaullist position of "splendid isolation", particularly towards the United States.
Speaking to 180 French ambassadors, Mr Sarkozy said a nuclear-armed Iran would be "unacceptable" and that the only response was to tighten sanctions while being open to talks if Iran suspended nuclear activities.
"This initiative is the only one that can enable us to escape an alternative that I say is catastrophic: the Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran," he said, adding that it was the worst crisis facing the world. Nicolas Sarkozy warns of Iran's nuclear crisis (more) By Henry Samuel in Paris
TIMESONLINE:
Sarkozy gets tough on Iran; but goes soft on Turkey
Mark Alexander
