Sarkozy: France to Return to NATO Military Command
By VOA News
11 March 2009
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says France will rejoin NATO's military command, more than four decades after quitting to protest what Paris once called U.S. dominance in Europe.
Former French President Charles de Gaulle quit the command structure in 1966. But Mr. Sarkozy told a French defense conference Wednesday that France needs to return to have its voice heard.
France is already the alliance's fourth largest contributor of troops. But the Sarkozy government has said its absence from NATO command structures leaves the country unable to influence command decisions.
NATO last month encouraged France to return, saying the French could gain key posts in the NATO command structure if it does so.
Under French law, Mr. Sarkozy could authorize NATO reintegration without parliamentary approval. But he has called a confidence vote March 17, in hopes of gaining added legitimacy to the move.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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