Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel paid homage to late French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday, describing him in a press release as a man of “courage” who “marked the political history of these past decades”.
Michel hailed “the memory of an extremely warm, intelligent and enthusiastic man”.
“While being a lover of the right words, he had a real concern with the development of the African continent and environmental issues,” the Belgian Prime Minister noted. "France and Europe have lost a major figure who will have marked the political history of these past decades.”
"I remember of Jacques Chirac the courage to have recognised the responsibility of the French State in the deportation of the Jews during the occupation of France by Nazi Germany,” Prime Minister Michel recalled.
“His defence of the “Yes” in the 2005 referendum on the European Constitution also attests to a stated commitment in favour of a more solid Europe.”
The Brussels Times
