His Excellency Jean-David Levitte, the French ambassador to the
United States, emphasized the importance for France and the United
States to move past previous disagreements regarding the war in
Iraq and proceed with rebuilding efforts together.
He discussed U.S. and European relationships in a speech in
Macgowan Hall on Wednesday.
Levitte, whose foreign service includes French Permanent
Representative at the United Nations, outlined the disagreements
between the French and U.S. governments on the Iraq war.
In his speech, Levitte recalled the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks, emphasizing the global support for the United States and
the fight against terrorism.
“On that day, I felt I was indeed an American and the
whole world felt the same way,” he said.
In a joint effort to eradicate terrorism, the French
participated in the war in Afghanistan, an area where French forces
still remain, he added.
Levitte said he supported U.N. Resolution 1441 to send
inspectors, for the first time in four years, to disarm Saddam
Hussein.
While the deployment of some forces to regions surrounding Iraq
was a good idea to show Hussein that he must comply with
disarmament efforts or face consequences, the U.S. deployment of
300,000 troops enticed the split in the U.N. Security Council and
the U.S. and French positions, Levitte said.
Despite previous disagreements, Levitte stressed the need to
assess the current situation and rebuilding efforts, saying the
French want to help.
“What is at stake in Iraq is huge. We cannot fail,”
he said.
The situation in Iraq will affect the future of the Muslim and
Western worlds and their relationship, he said.
In his discussion of the Iraq war, Levitte also addressed the
change in American perception of the French people.
While it’s accurate to say the French were against the war
and the U.S. leadership, who they felt led the war, the French were
not anti-American, Levitte said.
In addition, American criticism, particularly through the media,
of the French people was a significant problem, he said.
“I think it is fair to criticize the (French) president,
the government of France, but it was unfair and dangerous to insult
the French because they were French,” he added.
Throughout the speech Levitte stressed the historical
relationship between France and the United States.
“We should never forget that French and American forces
were together fighting since the early days in the War of
Independence,” he said.
Levitte’s comments on the European Union and the
maintenance of international bodies such as the United Nations
enticed an outburst from an audience member, who felt that the
involvement of international forces in Haiti was an intrusion.
The approach to the Haiti conflict marked a difficult choice,
Levitte said.
“To win a war is quite easy, but to build lasting peace
and, even more difficult, democracy and market economy needs at
least one or two generations,” he said.
Levitte’s response and composure impressed audience member
Mick McCullum, a third-year law student.
“He defined the term “˜being very diplomatic’
in his handling of the audience,” he said.
Vikram Kapoor, a third-year political science student, also
appreciated Levitte’s comments.
“Until now, I was very misinformed. I learned a lot from
this speech about French involvement,” he said.
Levitte’s speech is one of a series of public forums
sponsored by the School of Public Policy and Social Research and
the Center for Globalization and Policy Research.
Speakers in the public forum include national leaders who
discuss contemporary public policy concerns.
Other sponsors of the event included the Center for Civil
Society and the French Consulate General in Los Angeles.