Freed French hostages arrive home to emotional reunion
Iraq-hostages-France, 22 Décembre 2004 - 19h15 - Two French journalists freed after four months held hostage in Iraq returned Wednesday to an emotional reunion with their families and a jubilant President Jacques Chirac, whose government insisted no ransom had been paid for their release.
Chirac to see Bush in Washington in early 2005
France-US-Chirac-Bush-Mideast, 22 Décembre 2004 - 12h05 - French President Jacques Chirac is to travel to Washington in early 2005 to see US President George W. Bush at the latter's invitation, Chirac's office said Wednesday.
Chirac hails reporters' release in Iraq, vows to fight 'terrorism'
Iraq-hostages-France-Chirac, 22 Décembre 2004 - 10h58 - French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday hailed the release of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq since August, and vowed his country would continue to fight "terrorism".
French reporters freed in Iraq due back in Paris to heroes' welcome
Iraq-hostages-France, 22 Décembre 2004 - 10h15 - Two French journalists freed by insurgents in Iraq after a four-month kidnap ordeal were expected back in Paris Wednesday, where they will be greeted by President Jacques Chirac and given a rapturous homecoming.
Chirac breaks off Moroccan vacation to greet freed journalists in Paris
Iraq-hostages-France-Chirac, 21 Décembre 2004 - 20h17 - French President Jacques Chirac is to break off a Christmas vacation in Morocco and return to Paris to greet two French journalists freed in Iraq after being held hostage for four months, his office said Tuesday.
Bush-Chirac meeting in the works: US official
US-Europe-Bush-Chirac, 21 Décembre 2004 - 20h03 - US President George W. Bush and French President Jacques Chirac are trying to schedule a meeting in the United States "in the near future," a senior US administration official told AFP Tuesday.
French hostage release 'most beautiful Christmas present': mother
Iraq-hostages-France-mother, 21 Décembre 2004 - 19h48 - Her voice choked with emotion, the mother of Georges Malbrunot, one of two French reporters released after four months as hostages in Iraq, said Tuesday that it was "the most beautiful Christmas present."
Chirac calls for French psychiatric hospital overhaul after nurses' murder
France-crime-health, 20 Décembre 2004 - 12h46 - President Jacques Chirac on Monday called for an overhaul of France's psychiatric hospitals after the horrific murder of two nurses in an institution last week.
Chirac eyes stormy path to EU-Turkey marriage
EU-enlarge-Turkey-France-Chirac, 17 Décembre 2004 - 18h27 - French President Jacques Chirac forecast Friday that the EU and Turkey will eventually forge a "marriage," but warned it will be a long and stormy courtship over the coming decade or more.
Chirac's "yes, but" for Turkey's EU membership seen as sop to jittery France
EU-enlarge-Turkey-France-Chirac, 16 Décembre 2004 - 11h13 - President Jacques Chirac's statement that Turkey deserved EU membership -- but only if it met a series of conditions -- given on the eve of a key Brussels summit on the issue Thursday was seen in France as an attempt to reasssure a jittery public.
Chirac says he still backs EU membership for Turkey, with conditions
EU-enlarge-Turkey-France-Chirac, 15 Décembre 2004 - 21h05 - French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday said he still backed eventual EU membership for Turkey but with conditions, during a televised interview he gave on the eve of an EU meeting expected to greenlight the start of accession talks.
Chirac inaugurates world's tallest bridge in France
France-transport-bridge, 14 Décembre 2004 - 16h33 - As air force jets screamed overhead, French President Jacques Chirac inaugurated the world's tallest bridge Tuesday, a stunning masterpiece of engineering that will carry drivers 270 metresfeet) above ground.
Chirac expresses concerns to Dutch PM over Turkey's EU bid
EU-enlarge-Turkey-France-Netherlands, 13 Décembre 2004 - 22h00 - President Jacques Chirac expressed France's concerns Monday over talks this week aimed at deciding whether Turkey will join the European Union, during a meeting with the visiting Dutch prime minister.
Chirac's would-be assassin sentenced to 10 years in jail
France-justice-Chirac, 10 Décembre 2004 - 19h35 - Maxime Brunerie, a student who tried to assassinate French President Jacques Chirac at a Bastille Day parade two years ago, was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 10 years in jail by a Paris court Friday.
France, Russia urge 'free and fair' elections in Ukraine
Ukraine-France-Russia, 9 Décembre 2004 - 21h30 - French President Jacques Chirac and visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on Thursday agreed that Ukraine's upcoming presidential elections must be "free and fair", a spokesman for Chirac's office said.
Spanish, French leaders pledge common stance on Basque terror, EU budget
Spain-France, 7 Décembre 2004 - 22h27 - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and French President Jacques Chirac used annual summit talks Tuesday in this northern Spanish city to stress their desire to cooperate in fighting terrorism following a series of bombings blamed on Basque separatists.