Franco-British friendship rides high at 70th anniversary of 18th June appel
Date: 18 June 2010
On 18 June Prime Minister Cameron and President Sarkozy met in London to commemorate General de Gaulle's historic wartime broadcast on the BBC. This was the first time a French head of state had come to London to commemorate the historic broadcast which prompted the birth of the French Resistance.
It was a memorable occasion offering such spectacles as a British soldier in a bearskin and a French soldier in a kepi standing side by side in the grounds of the Royal Hospital. But as David Cameron observed in his speech, the Franco British relationship "is not some ceremonial friendship - it is a working relationship". He went on to talk about how the two countries stand 'shoulder-to-shoulder' today in facing huge challenges - including the conflict in Afghanistan, the economic crisis and climate change.
In his reply Nicolas Sarkozy offered the eternal gratitude of the French people for what Britain accomplished 'for their liberty and honour'. He said that The Appeal of the 18th June could have been made 'from nowhere else than from the sole free people on earth which continued to resist the forces of Nazism'. He paid tribute to the courage and tenacity of the British people and mentioned the exemplary behaviour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in staying in London throughout the Blitz.
Turning to the modern age he observed that 'the unity of Europe is a condition of the survival of its civilization and that, in consequence, everyone must do everything in their power to preserve it.' Finally he ended with the rousing words: 'Long live Franco-British friendship!'
Download the Franco-British Council pamphlet to read the background to the 18 June story.