The chumminess was a little forced, but the leaders of France and Germany yesterday rose above their differences over the European Central Bank governorship to deliver a performance of unity at the close of the Avignon summit.
Europe, it seemed, was one big family in which Jacques addressed Helmut by the familiar "tu" and the men together telephoned the Dutch Prime Minister to congratulate him on his election victory and the Italian Prime Minister to express sympathy and solidarity over mudslides that killed more than 40 Italians.
With his glowing, extemporaneous tribute to their severely tested friendship, Dr Kohl outshone the French President and Prime Minister.
"Franco-German relations are not only intact, they are excellent," the Chancellor said. He preferred the word "tandem" to describe the ties between their two countries.
"When it works, people say, `The French and the Germans are trying to decide for everyone else'," he complained. "And if it doesn't work, they say to us: `You are not fulfilling your historic mission'."
A journalist asked Dr Kohl if he felt sad that this was probably his last Franco-German summit. "That's a delicate question," Mr Chirac snapped.
"It's not at all a delicate question," Dr Kohl interrupted. "It's a perfectly natural question. Between now and the next summit there will be an election and I assume you read newspapers and watch German television. Well, I am used to being seen and I think you should remain accustomed to seeing me. I'll still be around for a while."
Whereupon Mr Chirac - whose behaviour last weekend may cost Dr Kohl the September 27th election - exclaimed: "I hope so!" and the Chancellor broke into his hearty laugh, with just a hint of regret in his eyes.
Not once did Mr Chirac mention the dispute in Brussels, but in his roundabout way he thanked Dr Kohl for giving in on the ECB governorship: "Helmut Kohl's vision of Europe has deeply marked the history of European integration, particularly the decisions he has taken in important moments. Naturally I would like to express our gratitude to him," Mr Chirac said.
The French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, always more direct than Mr Chirac, drew the lesson of the Brussels summit. "In view of the immense media attention, in particular when there are important events like the creation of the euro, we must be more careful about the technical preparation of European Council meetings, so that things take place as they ought to."
Dr Kohl announced a joint Franco-German initiative for the June 15th-16th EU summit in Cardiff. He and Mr Chirac will write to the other 13 heads of state requesting that they put subsidiarity at the top of the agenda.
"For me," Dr Kohl explained, "subsidiarity means that decisions in Europe must be taken as close as possible to the citizens. What is done in Brussels must be done there only when it cannot be done better at the national or regional level."
The leaders also discussed the creation of a Europe-wide civil and military aeronautics industry, which Dr Kohl called an urgent necessity if Europe is to compete with the US giant, Boeing-McDonnell Douglas. Reuters adds: Germany and France back western moves to examine military options aimed at bringing the antagonists in the Kosovo crisis back to the negotiating table, German government sources said yesterday in Avignon.
The sources, speaking after a meeting between the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries, said both sides agreed that pressure must be brought in particular to bear on the Yugoslav government in Belgrade.
