Because France-bashing is so April...

I was a little surprised that there wasn't more discussion about France's proposal for a new Transatlantic Charter (similar articles in the Guardian and on Deutsche Welle) over the past couple of days. While there are many pros and cons to the proposal itself, I thought it was an interesting idea for someone at the level of De Villepin to propose, as in a way it is an admission of the failures of diplomacy between parts of Europe and parts of North America.

Part of the problem, I guess, comes from the fact that it is stressing the idea in a rather French way - combating the problem through statute, treaty and Charter, which doesn't really square with the current ideals of the US. However, I would suggest that if no formal Charter or Treaty emerged from what De Villepin has proposed it would still be a good thing in that it would get the various sides talking to each other on a friendly basis, accepting that they do have more in common than they seem to be willing to admit at the moment.

I suppose the main problem comes from the fact that relationships have broken down to such a level that if one of the parties proposes something the other will instantly ignore it without regard to its merits - this would no doubt be just as likely to be the French response to any US proposal on similar lines. The need is for one of more countries to try and take on a mediative role, trusted by both sides, though I'm not sure how many fall into that category - Canada, Portugal and Ireland do spring to mind, though.