Chirac bows out of politics praising his enemy Blair

The feud between Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac fizzled out yesterday as the French President departed from European politics, offering his old adversary praise and support.

EU summits have been the scene of spectacular verbal fireworks between the two leaders over issues ranging from Iraq to the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

But at a press conference, 74-year-old M. Chirac offered his backing to Mr Blair over the detention of British marines and sailors by the Iranians. He also praised Britain for its contribution to EU defence policy.

No doubt to his satisfaction, Mr Blair has outlasted his French counterpart, though it has been a close-run thing. Mr Blair is destined to attend one further EU summit in June before stepping down. By then a new French president will have been elected.

Mr Blair did not give a press conference, answering only three questions at one of the stage-managed "doorsteps" he prefers. There was no mention of M. Chirac, though at a lunch for the leaders' spouses, Cherie Blair gave a speech bidding farewell to Bernadette Chirac.

One of M. Chirac's final acts was to approve the Berlin declaration, which praises Europe's accomplishments and also looks to the future, committing the EU to leading the way on "energy policy and climate protection". After being presented with an antique beer mug by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, M. Chirac told journalists: "You ask me if I am heavy-hearted. I don't have a sensitive heart, at least from that point of view."