Just telling it like it is

Date: 29/02/1996

The French ambassador to the EU, Pierre de Boissieu, is one of the most respected and experienced diplomats on the Brussels scene. He also has a dry, sardonic wit.

During a recent meeting of EU foreign ministers, he followed normal practice and took over leadership of the French delegation when his political master, Foreign Minister Hervé de Charette, left early.

The first time he was addressed by Italian Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli, who was chairing the meeting, she called him minister, triggering a mild protest and correction from de Boissieu.

But when she repeated the mistake, he surprised the gathering, which included quite a few ministers, by saying: “Je ne croyais pas avoir merité ce deshonneur” (I had not realised I had earned that dishonour). That's telling them, Pierre.