Macron’s words of peace for leaders
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron urged all countries to reject nationalism and join the “fight for peace” as he gave an impassioned Armistice speech.
He was among 70 world leaders who united at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris yesterday.
They included US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who all put their problems aside to honour those lost.
Mr Putin gave
Mr Trump a thumbs up before they shook hands and sat down to listen to
Mr Macron’s
20-minute speech in the ceremony at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier.
And he appeared to be aiming his remarks at the
US President, who frequently talks of “America First” policies.
Mr Macron said: “Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism.
“By saying our interests first, who cares about the others, we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential: its moral values. I know there are old demons which are coming back to the surface.
“They are ready to wreak chaos and death. History sometimes threatens to take its sinister course once again.
“Let us build our hopes rather than playing our fears against each other. “Ruining this hope with a fascination for withdrawal, violence or domination would be a mistake for which future generations would rightly find us responsible.
“May this gathering not be just one day. This fraternity, my friends, invites us, indeed, to lead together the only combat that is worthwhile: the fight for peace, the fight of a better world.” Thousands of ordinary French people had also turned out, despite persistent heavy rain, to pay tribute to the 9.7 million soldiers and 10 million civilians who lost their lives during the four-year long conflict.
The service ended with the same bugle call that was played at 11am on November 11, 1918 to signal the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front.