Chirac on entente mission
French President Jacques Chirac arrives in London today for rift healing talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Pierre Raffarin, the French prime minister, and other ministers will accompany Mr Chirac on the one-day trip.
Their arrival comes three days after US President George W Bush visited Britain.
Mr Chirac is looking to rebuild fractured ties between Paris, London and Washington, after France strongly criticised US-led unilateral military action to oust Saddam Hussein from power.
The US has given the French the cold shoulder following Franco-German plans to set up a European military force to rival Nato.
Mr Blair has accepted in principle the validity of an EU operational command system distinct from Nato but wants to pacify the apparent antagonism between the two defence structures.
Mr Blair and Mr Chirac will discuss defence, foreign policy, the common agricultural policy, and the EU draft constitution.
Mr Blair and Mr Chirac are also expected to announce plans for next year’s 100th anniversary celebrations of the Entente Cordiale.
M Chirac will receive a guard of honour at the Foreign Office before the talks with Mr Blair.
Mr Blair is also scheduled to meet Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar later this week.
