Mitterrand defended his Irish friend's interests

French reaction: The late French president François Mitterrand regarded Charles Haughey as such a close personal friend that…

French reaction: The late French president François Mitterrand regarded Charles Haughey as such a close personal friend that he instructed his foreign minister Roland Dumas to defend Irish interests in European negotiations and lent Mr Haughey one of his official residences for holidays in France, Mr Dumas recalled yesterday.

"François Mitterrand took great care to receive Charles Haughey every time he came to France," Mr Dumas recalled. "He received him as a friend rather than as the political representative of a country that was an ally."

Mr Dumas said Mr Mitterrand felt a "profound friendship" for Ireland "because of its economic situation" which justified "sacrifices on our part and on the part of other Europeans".

In economic negotiations with the rest of the community, Mr Dumas said, "François Mitterrand gave me instructions, in particular regarding dairy surpluses, to be very firm in such a way as to benefit Ireland as much as possible".

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Mr Mitterrand admired "the Irish people and their different causes, their personal struggle," Mr Dumas said. "This natural sympathy found expression in this man [ Haughey], who absolutely radiated conviction and goodness. Politics joined up with a purely human friendship."

Mr Dumas said the French president and the taoiseach saw one another often, at the Élysée Palace and elsewhere. "I met Charles Haughey several times when he was on holiday in France, at one of the presidential residences," Mr Dumas said.

He believes Mr Haughey vacationed at Bregancon, a centuries- old fort overlooking the Mediterranean which President Jacques Chirac visits every summer.

Mr Mitterrand and Mr Haughey have often been compared for their taste for power and luxury. Mr Dumas said the leaders resembled each other, though he cited "generosity of spirit, determination and refined manners" as shared characteristics.

Former president of the European Commission Jacques Delors was less effusive in his praise of Mr Haughey, saying he "would not like to talk about details of Irish domestic politics, echoes of which have reached me".

Mr Haughey however "was always very attentive to the evolution of Europe and Irish interests", Mr Delors said. In 1988, Mr Delors obtained a consensus on economic and social cohesion in Europe, which meant substantial structural funds for Ireland.

"The taoiseach fought to get the best share for Ireland and we had discussions which were courteous but sometimes difficult too," Mr Delors said. "His most salient feature was his fighting spirit. He was very tenacious. He defended the interests of his country pugnaciously."

Mr Delors also credited Mr Haughey with leading the Irish presidency of Europe in 1990, when a decision was taken on German unification.

"The agreement was reached in Dublin. That Irish presidency was important to the history of Europe," he said.