The authority and influence of France on the world scene in the 21st century will not depend solely on its modernity and cohesion, nor even on the continuity and professionalism of its foreign policy. France will be heeded if it has a message to convey. Faced with the temptations of laissez-faire, France must stand out as the nation with the imagination and determination to pursue an ambition that combines cogency with generosity.

No one can act alone in the name of all and no one can accept the anarchy of a society without rules.

The European Union and Russia have an identical viewpoint. We have condemned any potential revision of the ABM treaty, believing that such a revision will involve a risk of proliferation that will be very dangerous for the future.

You cannot trust people who have such bad cuisine. It [Great Britain] is the country with the worst food after Finland.

As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure.

One month, two months, I am ready to accept any accord on this point that has the approval of the inspectors.

National Missile Defense is of a nature to retrigger a proliferation of weapons, notably nuclear missiles. Everything that goes in the direction of proliferation is a bad direction.