January 31, 1996
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EST (1730 GMT)
From Bureau Chief Peter Humi and wire reports
PARIS (CNN) -- French President Jacques Chirac is starting a two-day visit in the United States Wednesday to promote French exports and a greater European role in NATO.
He'll meet with President Clinton and address both houses of Congress on Thursday, then wrap up his visit Friday with a dinner on the trading floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange following a speech to business leaders.
Chirac set the stage for his visit during an interview before leaving Paris.
He told The Washington Post he wants his country to become more involved in NATO, because the alliance is crucial to his country's security.
"Today, things have changed. France has moved close to NATO recently because it wants to play an active role in a reorganized alliance. We need to reflect on a new long-term vision, one that is based on a more equal partnership, with Europe doing more for its own security," Chirac said.
However, he still sees the United States as pivotal in the Bosnian peace process and was miffed that it took Washington so long before intervening in the conflict.
Congress is "riddled with isolationists," said Catherine Colonna, a spokesman for Chirac. Chirac will "remind them of the responsibilities of a great nation," she said. Those responsibilities include help for developing nations.
European nations contribute about $31 billion in aid to the Third World. The United States, with a comparable economy to that of Europe, donates just $9 billion. Chirac expects to stress that aiding poor countries is "not just a moral obligation, but in the West's best interests, too," Colonna said.
On Monday, Chirac announced an end to France's controversial series of nuclear tests in the South Pacific. His timing, just before his Washington trip, was intentional, said Dominique Moisi of the French Institute of International Relations. "In fact, one could say that the American angle has dominated the beginning and end of (France's) nuclear campaign."
France carried out six nuclear blasts since ending a 1992 moratorium last September. At least two Democratic members of Congress, Representatives Patsy Mink of Hawaii and Patricia Schroeder of Colorado, urged the House to withdraw the invitation for Chirac to speak because of France's nuclear testing.
The Chirac-Clinton meeting will be their fourth since the French leader was elected last May.
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