JEAN-PIERRE RAFFARIN

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

There have been major disagreements within the European Union.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 feel an enormous sense of gratitude towards the American people.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Prohibiting a visible religious sign, which isn't a manifestation of militancy, would look like a fight against religions.

The Republic is open and tolerant but also knows how and when to be firm and make its values respected.

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

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

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

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

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

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.