The French President, Mr Jacques Chirac, greeted the Taoiseach with the words "Happy Birthday" on the steps of the Élysée Palace yesterday. Lara Marlowe reports from Paris
Their luncheon meeting was meant to prepare for Ireland's presidency of the EU next January, but the EU agenda was overshadowed by other events. Mr Ahern and Mr Chirac both condemned Israel's threat to expel Mr Yasser Arafat from the West Bank. "I am totally opposed," the Taoiseach told journalists.
"By threatening to expel President Arafat, who is the elected leader, it will only incite the population. It will only incite the region. It is bad tactics by the Israelis." Mr Ahern recalled that the Foreign Minister, Mr Brian Cowen, insisted on visiting Mr Arafat in Ramallah over Israeli objections last summer. The French Foreign Minister, Mr Dominique de Villepin, made the same symbolic gesture.
Mr Ahern said he was glad the US had also criticised the Israeli decision. "It's well known the US president and administration are not favourable to President Arafat," the Taoiseach noted. "He is not the person that they want to deal with. Still, they have rejected this latest escalation by the Israeli authorities." There were other serious issues discussed over poached eggs in burgundy sauce, young rabbit, cheese and a chocolate cake with a single birthday candle.
France expected harsh criticism from its European partners at an ECOFIN summit in Italy yesterday. He would be asked about France's violation of the stability pact, Mr Ahern told Mr Chirac. Tell them I fully support it and that France will make every effort to comply as early as possible, Mr Chirac answered.
Mr Ahern duly reiterated his host's words, which contrasted with earlier defiant statements by high-ranking French officials. Alluding to reprimands from EU commissioners, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said earlier this month that he felt no compunction "to deliver accountant's equations to such and such an office, in such and such a country". The Budget Minister, Mr Alain Lambert, has implied that France's budget deficit will not fall below the mandatory 3 per cent until 2006.
Mr Ahern seemed to lend a sympathetic ear and followed Mr Chirac's example of stressing that the EU criteria were meant to be about economic growth as well as stability. There was not an unkind word about France's profligate spending, which penalises more restrained members of the euro system like Ireland.
Even washed down with a Château Smith Haut-Lafitte white graves and a Château La Mission Haut-Brion red, the Iraqi quagmire and fears of an Iranian nuclear weapons programme made for unpleasant contemplation. Mr Chirac urged Mr Ahern to nurture the EU-Russia relationship, and Mr Ahern spoke of his initiative to improve EU-US relations during the Irish presidency.
So many summits to host, the Taoiseach commented. You have to focus on central issues, Mr Chirac said. "If we were Chinese, I would say, happy birthday my younger brother," the French president said in his toast to the Taoiseach. "But we're not Chinese, so I'll simply say, happy birthday, young man." Mr Chirac is 70; Mr Ahern 52.
On only one question was there the slightest hint of discord. France and Germany are satisfied with the draft constitution drawn up by the European Convention. Mr Chirac says France "does not want to stray from the equilibrium of the text". But smaller countries are still chafing at plans to limit the number of commissioners and end the rotating EU presidency. Outstanding differences are to be thrashed out in an Inter Governmental Conference which could drag into the Irish presidency.
"There is a strong view that the work should not be undone," the Taoiseach said of the Convention. "But equally, many of the 25 countries have fundamental issues to discuss where they want some concessions . . . By opening up many of these issues, it's going to create numerous difficulties. That's the problem for the current Italian presidency, and for our presidency." If Ireland inherits the IGC, Mr Ahern said it would be under pressure to finish by February.
Mr Chirac told the Taoiseach how much France appreciated Ireland's €10.5 million renovation of the Irish College. Mr Ahern had visited the campus and the chapel before a motorcade swept him to the Élysée luncheon. "This is the third time we were waiting for him," said Monsieur Michel Guillaume, the retired senior French civil servant who presides over the Fondation Irlandaise that owns the College. "The first time, he had to go to London to talk about Northern Ireland. The second time, he had to campaign for the Nice Treaty." Monsieur Guillaume's patience was at last rewarded.
The Taoiseach said it was a great honour to meet him. Monsieur Guillaume visibly swelled with pride, the beneficiary of Bertie's birthday magic.