When I see the cultural diversity that exists today, I feel that we must defend it, and we need Europe, because otherwise we are going to live in a society with a single model, the Anglo-American model.

I tell fundamentalists that there is no question of them attacking our Republic's foundations.

The United States, for a French citizen, is a friend, an ally, to whom we owe, along with most Europeans, our freedom.

We believe that the European Union is facing a truly historic choice.

I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.

It's true that the question of Iraq divided Europe.

I believe that transatlantic relations are very important and that President Bush's visit to Brussels, in a few days, will have a major impact on that.