PARIS, France (Reuters) – One of France’s most solemn national occasions, the Armistice Day commemoration of the end of the First World War, may be changed to a celebration of friendship with Germany under ideas being considered by the government.
The suggestion has been made as part of a series of proposals by European affairs minister Pierre Lellouche, who has been looking into ways to reinvigorate France’s longstanding partnership with Germany.
“I have proposed that this celebration of the end of World War One should henceforth be a celebration of the unity between France and Germany and the unity of Europe,” Lellouche said.
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End of an era
France’s last First World War veteran died last year but the commemoration of the end of the war in which millions died on both sides is still an important French national memorial, in contrast to Germany, where it is little noticed.
Officials said the announcement could be made by French president Nicolas Sarkozy at the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall on Nov. 9, two days before the anniversary of the Nov. 11 armistice.
German chancellor Angela Merkel visited Paris hours after being sworn in to her second term, but the symbolically important visit between the two countries masks important differences in areas ranging from the huge public deficits run up in the financial crisis to energy and security policy.
