Word: poncet
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...NATO allies had, meanwhile, held intensive consultations on possible countermeasures; indeed, French Foreign Minister Jean François-Poncet reiterated that the Western allies had already agreed on a precise plan. Political and economic sanctions would almost certainly be imposed. In the view of U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, Soviet intervention would "effectively end any possibility of talks" with Moscow, including the negotiations on arms limitations that the Soviets seem to want...
Giscard lieutenants, who only the day before had talked smugly about remaining above the fray, could no longer contain themselves. Foreign Minister Jean François-Poncet blasted Mitterrand for his lack of patriotism and the "rudeness of his expression." Fumed Prime Minister Raymond Barre: "As a Frenchman, I was revolted...
Preoccupied with domestic economic problems since the Inauguration, the Reagan Administration of necessity last week turned its attention to foreign policy. Important visitors-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, French Foreign Minister Jean François-Poncet and Israeli Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir-were in Washington to get acquainted with the new Administration. Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev was speaking out in Moscow, giving his first-and unexpectedly moderate-response to Ronald Reagan's tough anti-Communist talk. Congress, as well as some of America's allies, was beginning to ask troublesome questions about whether the Administration's desire...
...amity between Reagan and Thatcher, two leaders of conservative parties, was expected. More surprisingly, French officials described François-Poncet's talks with Secretary of State Haig and Reagan as chaleureuses re-trouvailles (warm rediscoveries) of friendship. Relations between Washington and Paris cooled during the Carter years, and particularly so after President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing proved notably slow and mild in condemning the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan...
During his three-day visit to Washington, François-Poncet promised Haig that France would join the U.S. in breaking political and economic ties to the Soviet Union if it invaded Poland. What has changed? Said François-Poncet: "The new element is that there is a new Administration. For long the U.S. sought protégés in Europe. This Administration is looking for associates." Perhaps. But attitudes have shifted in Paris too. Giscard, who faces a tough battle for re-election in two months, is aware he is out of step with French public opinion...