Front Page
`Not a super power'
By Our Special Correspondent
BANGALORE, JAN. 5. Exorcising the ghost of its imperial past, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair today acknowledged that Britain was ``not a super power'' and the empire was ``long gone'' but said it could still be a ``pivotal force for good''. In a significant elaboration of Britain's new place in a post-colonial world, Mr. Blair said that its past gave it ``unparalleled connections'', with a host of regions, which it could use to build new partnerships and ``in so doing I believe we have found a modern foreign policy role for Britain.''
Mr. Blair's remarks came amid accusations at home that he was indulging in ``pyjama diplomacy'', while domestic issues were crying for his attention. His speech was seen as a riposte to critics who ridiculed Britain for not having been quite able to come to terms with the loss of the empire.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Front Page
|
