Jean-Pierre Raffarin Quotes

It's important to show that, while authorizing the demonstrations and promoting diversity of opinion, the Republic can't allow itself to be undermined from within.

I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.

I was a Member of the European Parliament for a period of time and I saw a lot of European laws and treaties.

A country like France now does two-thirds of its trade within the euro zone.

Prohibiting a visible religious sign, which isn't a manifestation of militancy, would look like a fight against religions.

It's true that the question of Iraq divided Europe.

The United States, for a French citizen, is a friend, an ally, to whom we owe, along with most Europeans, our freedom.

The Republic is open and tolerant but also knows how and when to be firm and make its values respected.

I am a believer, but I affirm that in public buildings the law of the Republic overrides religious rules.

I tell fundamentalists that there is no question of them attacking our Republic's foundations.

We feel an enormous sense of gratitude towards the American people.

What's very important is that we build a space that matters in the world, one that operates according to democratic rules, and that small and large countries enjoy a good relationship.

We must stress that the euro has been beneficial to the European Union because, otherwise, in this context of international turmoil, every country would have to devalue their currencies.

The Europe we are in the process of building is the Europe of the 21st century; it's not the Europe of the 20th century.

This constitution recognises the need for social dialogue involving labour and management; it involves trade unions in the decision-making process; it has a social vision founded on social dialogue.

When I see the cultural diversity that exists today, I feel that we must defend it, and we need Europe, because otherwise we are going to live in a society with a single model, the Anglo-American model.

But the Republic has its rules and it must not tolerate any abuse of them.

Europe started out with six countries; three small countries and three large countries.

Let them be reassured, it has never been one of our intentions to ban religion in society, but solely to protect the national education system from any conspicuous display of religious affiliation.