PARIS - President Jacques Chirac told his new government`s first cabinet meeting Friday that he would assure EU colleagues of France`s commitment to the bloc despite the rejection of the EU constitution.
A French government spokesman quoted Chirac saying that he would underline France`s "anchoring within the Union" during the next few weeks.
French voters decisively rejected the European Union`s first-ever constitution in a referendum Sunday, ignoring Chirac`s pleas to approve the text and triggering one of the biggest political crises to rock Europe.
Chirac overhauled his government in the wake of the defeat, replacing his prime minister, and his comments Friday were his first to the assembled new team.
06/03/2005 16:17 GMT