WASHINGTON: President Nicolas Sarkozy of France left the summit meeting of 20 nations on the financial crisis last weekend in Washington declaring that it had changed the world. Then he went home and announced that he was holding another summit meeting in a few weeks on the same topic. Sarkozy did not tell President George W. Bush or other leaders about his plans while he was here, according to European and American officials. A senior European diplomat said that he found the whole exercise "amazing," while an American official said "amazing" was a charitable description. French officials said the Paris meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 8 and 9 is to be co-hosted by the former British prime minister Tony Blair, was merely a conference - one intended to bring together political leaders and prominent thinkers to discuss issues like globalization and the values of capitalism.
WASHINGTON: President Nicolas Sarkozy of France left the summit meeting of 20 nations on the financial crisis last weekend in Washington declaring that it had changed the world. Then he went home and announced that he was holding another summit meeting in a few weeks on the same topic.
Sarkozy did not tell President George W. Bush or other leaders about his plans while he was here, according to European and American officials.
A senior European diplomat said that he found the whole exercise "amazing," while an American official said "amazing" was a charitable description.
French officials said the Paris meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 8 and 9 is to be co-hosted by the former British prime minister Tony Blair, was merely a conference - one intended to bring together political leaders and prominent thinkers to discuss issues like globalization and the values of capitalism.
I'm sure the US response was laughable, but the early date means there will almost certainly be yet another conference after Obama's inauguration.
ps blair is an economic numbskull. what's he there for ? keep to the Fen Causeway
