Giscard calls for stronger West

Press, 9 July 1980, Page 8

Giscard calls for stronger West

NZPA-Reuter Bonn The French President (Mr Valery Giscard d’Estaing) has called on West Europe to take on a stronger and more independent role in world affairs. Speaking at a banquet at the start of a five-day official visit to West Germany, Mr Giscard said such a European renaissance would not alter France's commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. 'This alliance is necessary for our security and, by the balance it ensures, it guarantees peace,” he said in reply to a toast by the West German President (Mr Karl Carstens).

“Our membership of this

alliance in no way prohibits the emergence, or rather reemergence. of a European presence, acting in its own way and for its own ends, in the great debates which stir tire world.” Mr Giscard said. The world needed ■ “a strong and independent Europe,” and although France was committed to N.A.T.O. it was time “to put an end to Europe's self-effacement in the world.” Earlier. Mr Giscard had initial private talks wi}' 1 Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, when they discussed EastWest relations and the outcome of Mr Schmidt’s visit to Moscow last week. Mr Schmidt was particularly interested in the Kremlin’s offer of talks with thei

United States on limiting medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe, a French Presidential spokesman said. Mr Giscard was to have talks early yesterday with the Foreign Minister (Mr Hans-Dietrich Genscher) before going to Baden-Baden, headquarters of the 50,000strong French military' contingent in West Germany. He and Mr Schmidt will watch a joint West GermanFrench military display symbolising the close ties between the two countries. The President and Mrs Giscard will be guests at a luncheon given by the Min-ister-President of BadenWuerttemberg before going on to Kassel, in Hessen, for the rest of the day.