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French
Foreign minister gives the 2003 Dimbleby Lecture
Dominique de Villepin calls for Britain and France to shape Europe's
future together
Sunday
19 October 2003 at 11.00pm on 麻豆社 ONE
Dominique
de Villepin, the French Foreign Minister, reveals his vision for
the future of relations between the French and British when he delivers
the 28th Dimbleby Lecture this Sunday on 麻豆社 ONE.
He
states that what unites Britain and France is stronger than what
divides them and that, "together Britain and France can shape
Europe's future."
In
a bid to open the strategic Franco-German relationship to Britain,
he insists that, "Britain, France and Germany must act together
as Europeans" and emphasises that Britain and France agree
that, "the multilateral route is the only realistic one."
Villepin
stresses that: "there will be no Europe without European defence,
and no European defence without Britain" and underlines the
importance of the ongoing joint efforts with the UK and Germany
to achieve resolution of Iranian proliferation crisis.
In
his speech, he also proposes the relaunch of the Middle East peace
process by convening a peace conference and deploying an interposition
force and calls for the rapid handover of sovereignty to the Iraqi
people.
Domique de Villepin is the first Dimbleby lecturer to speak whilst
still actively serving in government.
He
is a career diplomat who worked up through the ranks of the foreign
ministry to be first President Chirac's Chief of Staff and, since
May last year, his Foreign Minister.
Not
just a diplomat, he regularly runs marathons, sleeps only four hours
a night, has published five volumes of poetry and Elle magazine
recently stated that, "his beautiful jaw line and eyebrows
make television viewers swoon."
Villepin
comments: "We
French love giving lectures, with the sense of humility and modesty
which we share with you."
Dominique
de Villepin joins an esteemed list of Dimbleby Lecture speakers
from the realms of politics, science, business and the arts.
The
distinguished series, in memory of the late broadcaster, Richard
Dimbleby, began in 1972 with Lord Annan.
It
has featured former United States President Bill Clinton, HRH The
Duke of Edinburgh, Stella Rimington, Tate director Sir Nicholas
Serota and, last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams,
among its contributors.
Notes
to Editors
The
lecture is available below in .
You
may require Adobe Acrobat Software to read PDF files which can be
obtained .
Dominique
de Villepin's lecture in full (46 KB)
2002
Dimbleby Lecture - Dr Rowan Williams (19.12.02)
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