After meeting with the Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said there was "no miracle solution" to the impasse caused by the Irish rejection of the European Union's Lisbon treaty in June. Sarkozy, speaking at a joint press conference with Cowen, said he respected the vote of the Irish people and denied meddling in Irish affairs. The French president remained "convinced that with time the European Union would find a way forward." Cowen said that Ireland was at the start of a process of analysis and consultation and that a way would be found to "resolve the current difficulties" in a manner satisfactory to all 27 member states.
Sarkozy, speaking at a joint press conference with Cowen, said he respected the vote of the Irish people and denied meddling in Irish affairs.
The French president remained "convinced that with time the European Union would find a way forward."
Cowen said that Ireland was at the start of a process of analysis and consultation and that a way would be found to "resolve the current difficulties" in a manner satisfactory to all 27 member states.
As a message from the "plain people of Ireland" to President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, it could not have been clearer. But "Kermit", the man in the neon green frog suit, the farmers, hardline Irish republicans, anti-motorway campaigners, fishermen, the Catholic Right and even `Victims of Irish Solicitors', were kept well away from the French presidential cavalcade as it rolled to Government Buildings for a `clear the air' meeting with the Taoiseach Brian Cowen. "Hop it Sarko! Le peuple a dit non!" was the frogman's message, accompanied with a a photograph of France's First Lady in a bikini with the question "Ou est Carla?" "It's just a bit of fun, to make the point to Sarkozy that he can't tell the Irish people what to do," said the man inside the frog suit - who identified himself only as Kermit.
As a message from the "plain people of Ireland" to President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, it could not have been clearer.
But "Kermit", the man in the neon green frog suit, the farmers, hardline Irish republicans, anti-motorway campaigners, fishermen, the Catholic Right and even `Victims of Irish Solicitors', were kept well away from the French presidential cavalcade as it rolled to Government Buildings for a `clear the air' meeting with the Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
"Hop it Sarko! Le peuple a dit non!" was the frogman's message, accompanied with a a photograph of France's First Lady in a bikini with the question "Ou est Carla?"
"It's just a bit of fun, to make the point to Sarkozy that he can't tell the Irish people what to do," said the man inside the frog suit - who identified himself only as Kermit.
This is beginning to look like 'anybody but Bush'. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
