Quotes from Jean-Pierre Raffarin

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.

The Europe we are in the process of building is the Europe of the 21st century; it's not the Europe of the 20th century.

What's very important is that we build a space that matters in the world, one that operates according to democratic rules, and that small and large countries enjoy a good relationship.

We shall say clearly that any symbol conspicuously displaying religious affiliation in school is prohibited.

France has a very important relationship with Germany. But that does not mean that we agree about everything or that two of our universities or companies are not going to compete.

Let them be reassured, it has never been one of our intentions to ban religion in society, but solely to protect the national education system from any conspicuous display of religious affiliation.

What's very important is that we build a space that matters in the world, one that operates according to democratic rules, and that small and large countries enjoy a good relationship.

It's a different outlook, and one that I understand. When you are a former member of the Warsaw Pact, when you have lived behind the Berlin Wall, when you have experienced the communist systems that existed in these countries, for them, the West represents hope.

We have come a long way in terms of foreign policy.

France has a very important relationship with Germany. But that does not mean that we agree about everything or that two of our universities or companies are not going to compete.

It's a different outlook, and one that I understand. When you are a former member of the Warsaw Pact, when you have lived behind the Berlin Wall, when you have experienced the communist systems that existed in these countries, for them, the West represents hope.

Let them be reassured, it has never been one of our intentions to ban religion in society, but solely to protect the national education system from any conspicuous display of religious affiliation.

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

We must stress that the euro has been beneficial to the European Union because, otherwise, in this context of international turmoil, every country would have to devalue their currencies.

But the Republic has its rules and it must not tolerate any abuse of them.

I am a believer, but I affirm that in public buildings the law of the Republic overrides religious rules.

We feel an enormous sense of gratitude towards the American people.

Europe started out with six countries; three small countries and three large countries.

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

We would like UN resolutions to be enforced, including on Iraq.

I was a Member of the European Parliament for a period of time and I saw a lot of European laws and treaties.

A country like France now does two-thirds of its trade within the euro zone.

It's important to show that, while authorizing the demonstrations and promoting diversity of opinion, the Republic can't allow itself to be undermined from within.

Obviously, there is diversity, but Europe is a union of diversity.