Chirac pours scorn on Britain - and haggis

JACQUES Chirac has mocked Britain and singled out haggis for particular scorn in front of Germany and Russia's leaders, just days before he enjoys the hospitality and cuisine of Gleneagles at the G8 summit.

The French president even jokingly blamed his country's poor relationship with NATO on attempts by Lord Robertson, the former secretary-general, to coerce him into trying haggis.

He also risked the wrath of Britons by telling Gerhard Schrder, the German chancellor, and Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, that "one cannot trust people who have such bad cuisine".

His jibes, made at a three-way summit in Kaliningrad, Russia, have ruffled diplomatic feathers just two days ahead of the announcement by the International Olympic Committee over which city will host the 2012 Games. Paris is favourite, closely followed by London.

Mr Chirac's comments appeared in the French newspaper Liberation yesterday, the day that Tony Blair started lobbying Olympic voting officials in Singapore.

Mr Chirac - believing he was out of earshot of the press - had told his German and Russian counterparts that he had been forced to eat an unappetising Scots delicacy by Lord Robertson, adding: "From there sprang all our difficulties with NATO."

The French have been at odds with the military alliance following their push for a European army, which the Americans fear will undermine NATO.

Mr Chirac also inflamed sensitivities over British beef and BSE, in a reference to Britain's row with Europe over the Common Agriculture Policy.

"The only thing they [Britain] have contributed to European agriculture is the mad cow," the president said. Britain's cuisine was also the second worst "after Finland", he added.

However, Mr Chirac appeared more prepared to set aside his differences with the United States. When Mr Putin asked Mr Chirac what he thought of hamburgers, he replied that he preferred them to British food.

Egon Ronay, the food critic, disputed Mr Chirac's gastronomic tastes with a robust response: "A man full of bile is not fit to pronounce on food."

He added that "no other country in the world" had such an improved cuisine.

Tony Blair's official spokesman insisted it was better to maintain a dignified silence, but the Prime Minister could not resist a dig at his rival when asked what he would say to Mr Chirac if Paris was victorious.

Mr Blair said: "I just hope I'm commiserating with him rather than congratulating him."

It was too late for No10 to rise above trading insults, after consultants to London's bid criticised Paris's flagship stadium, forcing Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, to issue an apology.

Mr Chirac may also have difficulty snubbing haggis at the G8 summit. The Queen will host a dinner for the world leaders tomorrow night at Gleneagles Hotel, where Scotland's finest is likely to be on the menu.