BENY-SUR-MER, France -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy drew Thursday on the memories of thousands of Canadian war heroes buried in the cemetery here to re-define how his country views Canada's national unity debate.
Sarkozy was speaking in the mist of a federalist-separatist furor in Canada over the warm French reception given to Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean.
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean delivers a speech at a Canadian military cemetery in western France Thursday during ceremonies to mark the 63rd anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
No one, Sarkozy told a gathering of journalists and local residents, asked the young Canadian soldiers who stormed the beaches during D-Day in 1944 what language they spoke or what region they came from.
"But we knew from which country," he said.
Sarkozy was speaking on a day honouring the 63rd anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
It was the first time a French president has held the annual May 8 ceremonies outside Paris, and both events here Thursday involved Jean.
Singing birds filled the thick trees surrounding the cemetery that contains the remains of more than 2,000 Canadians. It is only a short walk from the Normandy beaches where the bloody but decisive D-Day battle began on June 6, 1944.
The speech, a powerful expression of thanks for Canada's major role in France's liberation, seemed intended to bury forever the bitter memories of Canadian federalists over then-president Charles de Gaulle's "Vive le Quebec libre" declaration in 1967.
Sarkozy's speech was appeared far less ambiguous about Canada than the post-de Gaulle French policy, which has for decades stated that France would neither interfere with, nor remain indifferent to, Quebec's possible separation.
That vague policy left open for speculation the possibility that France secretly endorsed Quebec sovereignty.
Former Parti Quebecois premier Jacques Parizeau has said that had his forces won the 1995 referendum, France's expected support would have been a crucial step for Quebec as it sought recognition from the U.S.
Sarkozy, speaking of the "young heroes" who never returned to Canada, said the soldiers of all linguistic backgrounds "saved us" from Nazi tyranny.
"So it is all Canadians we wanted to honour today. You know that we are very close to Quebec, but I want to tell you, we love Canada very much as well."
France has dual loyalties with Canada and Quebec but "we don't put them at odds with one another," he said.
He concluded this portion of his speech by speaking of a future relationship involving two countries -- not three.
"The future of Canada and of France will be the future of two countries, not simply allies, but friends."
France has given mixed signals about its possible plans to develop a new policy on Canadian unity since a recent statement by former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a Sarkozy ally and head of the France-Canada committee organizing Quebec City's 400th anniversary celebrations.
Raffarin said the president doesn't like the non-indifference, non-interference position.
Some analysts have suggested Sarkozy, a close friend of billionaire Montreal businessman Paul Desmarais, has been persuaded by the Power Corp. chairman to develop a pro-Canada foreign policy.
Jean, meanwhile, has altered her message slightly after the federal government was harshly attacked Wednesday by sovereigntist politicians who allege that Ottawa has hijacked the Quebec City 400th anniversary celebrations.
They said that Canada's "almost Queen," as she's been dubbed here in glowing media profiles, is playing down Quebec and incorrectly portraying the anniversary as an event about the founding of Canada.
Jean broke from her speaking notes during a speech late Wednesday evening to declare that she was a proud Quebecer, and again voiced pride Thursday in her Quebec heritage during a speech during 400th anniversary events in the port city of La Rochelle.
Attending festivities such as the send-off of close to 50 vessels sailing to Quebec City, she was later asked by a reporter to comment on the furor.
"Why don't we stay in the spirit of the celebration? I think that what we are celebrating is really a story of friendship that is great and for everyone, for Quebec and for the whole of Canada."
-- Canwest News Service
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