Different Voices

Date: 23/03/2000

• “I would rather have a bad summit than a bad conscience.” Portuguese Premier Antonio Guterres acknowledging that the diplomatic row over the Freedom Party's entry into government in Austria could overshadow this week's Lisbon summit, but insisting that it was right to maintain sanctions on Vienna.
• “The most active and vocal, France and Belgium, cannot dictate policy on behalf of the whole EU.” Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja insisting Union member states would have to find a way out of the freeze on ties with Austria if the government had not committed any wrong-doing 'after a sufficient observation period'.
• “Sometime we behave like children. What difference does it make who chairs the talks? He has to be neutral any way.” World Trade Organisation envoy speaking after arguments between the EU and the Cairns Group over who should chair the talks on liberalising farm trade marred the launch of negotiations.