FRENCH PERSPECTIVE:Bernard Kouchner declared Sarkozy's visit a success 'because we are listening a lot and talking little', writes Lara Marlowein Dublin.
THE BACK-PATTING and joviality were for the television cameras outside Government Buildings. Then President Nicolas Sarkozy and Taoiseach Brian Cowen withdrew into the Taoiseach's office for an hour and a half of intense, one-on-one discussions.
Mr Sarkozy proposed a course of action, which revolves around a permanent commissioner for everyone, plus assurances on the topics Mr Sarkozy mentioned later in their joint press conference: neutrality, taxation and abortion.
Most surprising was a suggestion by Mr Sarkozy that Ireland could vote again on Lisbon on the day of the EU parliamentary elections next June. The French leader would love to be able to announce such a solution by the end of France's EU presidency. Mr Cowen tirelessly reiterated that Ireland needs time to assess and reflect. "I'm trying to help you," Mr Sarkozy told the Taoiseach.
"You're better off making a deal with me, because afterwards you'll get the Czechs [EU presidency], and that won't be easy."
After the trauma of the past week, Mr Cowen must have been horrified when Mr Sarkozy suggested he'd be happy to return to Dublin. But the Taoiseach accepted the invitation to visit Paris in September.
The line in the joint statement issued after their meeting about their commitment "to work closely together in seeking a way forward for the union" came at French instigation.
The organisation of this presidential visit - by the "diplomatic cell" at the Élysée - was particularly shambolic. Irish officials would have preferred the National Concert Hall or Farmleigh to the French ambassador's residence. The most convincing explanation for the endless twists and turns was that officials working under Mr Sarkozy are afraid to ask him for instructions. When the president and Taoiseach finally joined waiting ambassadors, ministers and advisers in the dining room following their one-on-one talks, Mr Sarkozy said: "I thought you'd have finished by now!"
A dispute broke out between the foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, and the president. Dr Kouchner was saying to the Irish side: "We understand, we're listening. . ." when Mr Sarkozy broke in: "There are no journalists around, Bernard. You can be tough."
A renowned chocoholic, Mr Sarkozy was far more interested in the chocolates served at the end of the meal than in the smoked salmon and lamb. Knowing of the president's addiction, Dr Kouchner moved his own chocolates on to Mr Sarkozy's plate.
Dr Kouchner, chastened by his pre-referendum experience (when he said the Irish would be the first victims of a No vote) told this journalist that the visit was "a success because we are listening a lot and talking little". Mr Sarkozy was nonetheless estimated to have talked at least two-thirds of the time. He appeared to genuinely listen for the remainder.
An Élysée source described the visit as "useful, very enriching" and expressed satisfaction that Mr Sarkozy was able to meet such a variety of people. "The president enjoyed the welcome, and the way the round table discussion unfolded - the incredible frankness of it. It wasn't confrontational, but everyone stuck to his guns." For the official from the Élysée, "the real, basic question" was that put to Mr Sarkozy by the Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams: "What European Union do we want?" Mr Adams said the Irish wanted a new treaty, not a new referendum, to which Mr Sarkozy replied: "Yes, but 26 others will have ratified this treaty."
There were a few classic Sarkozy moments at the press conference: his joke about the Taoiseach's size, which provoked an awkward tittle; his scrappy insistence that "I did not meddle in Irish affairs" by saying Ireland would have to vote again; his feigned outrage when he asked rhetorically: "So to come here would be to meddle? And not to come would be indifference!"
By the end of the visit, French and Irish officials were visibly relieved. Mr Sarkozy said he'd been "very happy" at the invitation from "my friend Brian . . . I didn't invite myself," the president insisted. "I came because I was asked to do so by the Taoiseach."
In fact, it was Mr Sarkozy who first mentioned a visit to Ireland, three days after the referendum result. "I would like to travel to Ireland to find out under what conditions we could minimise this problem," Mr Sarkozy said in Prague on June 16th.
As president of the EU Council, it was normal for Mr Sarkozy to travel to any European capital, Irish officials admitted. But they agreed with French counterparts who suggested yesterday's visit may have been too soon.