Ottawa - French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin began a delicate visit to Ottawa this week, with the formal focus on cultural and economic ties but with Canadian officials guarding against any promotion of Quebec separatism.
Every French visit in the past three decades has been conducted under the shadow of former French President Charles de Gaulle who enraged his Canadian hosts in 1967 when he declared: "Vive le Quebec libre! - Long live a free Quebec!" before a delirious crowd at Montreal's City Hall.
Before Mr Jospin left for his four-day visit to Canada, an official in his office was careful to repeat French policy: "We are not indifferent to the future of Quebec, but we have no intention of interfering with the domestic political affairs of Canada or Quebec."