I hope that in the next few days we demonstrate as a world our complete solidarity in this fight which is so important to us.

Without wealth creation and wealth generation, there cannot be a proper financing of the system of social solidarity that we want to see,

We want to express our sympathy and our solidarity and give our prayers and thoughts to the people who are affected by what has happened out there on the Gulf coast,

a very strong and clear declaration of our support and solidarity for the United States and secondly a series of specific measures we will take -- both European and national.

We hope that this move, along with other efforts being made at international level, will help bring about a reduction in oil prices in the very near future.

Yet behind that extraordinary front presented to the world was one of the shrewdest political minds I ever encountered.