The occasion for French President Jacques Chirac's visit to the UK is the conclusion of the centenary celebrations of the Entente Cordiale. Chirac's talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair are likely to focus on key issues in the EU, the war in Iraq, Britain's takeover of the presidency of the G8, and the two countries' co-operation in Africa and Afghanistan.
Prior to his departure, Chirac told reporters that the situation in Iraq had engendered terrorism and that he was "not at all sure" that the ousting of Saddam Hussein has made the world a safer place. In his opinion, the intervention in Iraq should have occurred through the United Nations. “To a certain extent Saddam Hussein’s departure was a positive thing, but it also provoked reactions, such as the mobilisation in a number of countries of men and women of Islam which has made the world more dangerous," he said. "The way things are now I can't imagine that there will be French troops in Iraq," he added.
"There is an open disagreement between us and we should be honest enough to acknowledge that," Blair's spokesman said. Analysts point out that relations between the two leaders are near rock bottom.
While Chirac has been working to create a stronger EU that could balance US power, Blair's declared aim has been to build a bridge between Europe and the United States.
