The French president reportedly "presented a list of 14 sales that French firms would like to make to the Saudi government, complete with the original price and discounts that Sarkozy was prepared to negotiate".
Sarkozy was seen crossing his legs and pointing the sole of his shoe at the king – a taboo gesture in the Islamic world."
>>>>>>> Pointing shoe at the head of state is not appreciated anywhere in the world. Not just Islamic world. As I said before, certain Arabs are still in a delusional mindset about their status in the west. Sarkozy just illustrated the reality to the king.
During this trip ( Recently another trip by president Obama) the French president was trying to advance interest of his country and people. I only wish our political leadership learn something from this. At time it seems they are spending a lot of time fighting each other than promoting the country to the world.
From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>
Sent: Wed, Dec 1, 2010 12:24 pm
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Nicolas Sarkozy, the Saudis and Carla Bruni
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Sunday, December 5, 2010
Re: [ALOCHONA] Nicolas Sarkozy, the Saudis and Carla Bruni
>>>>>>> I have to give some credit to the French president. He did not pretend that, he respected anything Muslim or Arab. He was himself with his fiancée during the trip. It was all business nothing personal. I may not agree with everything he does but he gets high mark from me for being honest and upfront.
-----Original Message-----
Nicolas Sarkozy, the Saudis and Carla Bruni
US embassy cables reveal French president offended Saudi sensibilities by inviting fiancée on state visit
Nicolas Sarkozy offended the Saudis by planning to take Carla Bruni on a state visit before they were married, a secret US cable shows.
The French president made a high-profile trip to Saudi Arabia in January 2008 to improve his personal relationship with King Abdullah. But a memo from the US embassy in Riyadh said Saudi contacts "privately shared displeasure with certain French conduct" during the trip.
The hosts found Sarkozy's invitation of his then fiancée, Bruni, "offensive given their strict, conservative culture against the company of an unmarried woman". In the end, Bruni stayed home. But various "protocol faux pas" were committed by the French delegation. Sarkozy was deemed "less than gracious" for "avoiding tasting traditional Arab foods" and displaying a "bored look during the televised arrival sword ceremony".
Saudi contacts lamented the brazenly commercial tone of the trip, the cable said. The French president reportedly "presented a list of 14 sales that French firms would like to make to the Saudi government, complete with the original price and discounts that Sarkozy was prepared to negotiate".
On another state visit, Sarkozy travelled to Morocco in October 2007, just after the divorce from his second wife, Cecilia. He was accompanied on the trip, including at a banquet with the royal family, by his justice minister, Rachida Dati, whose mother was Moroccan.
But the US embassy in Rabat noted in a secret cable: "While Sarkozy was generally well received, there was much gossip in Moroccan salons about a 'too relaxed' president slouching comfortably in his chair as he and the king presided over a 22 October signing ceremony at the royal palace in Marrakech. In one image, Sarkozy was seen crossing his legs and pointing the sole of his shoe at the king – a taboo gesture in the Islamic world."
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