French PM on visit, gives speech on Eurozone

(16 Jul 2010) SHOTLIST
1. French Prime Minister Francois Fillon walking to the podium
2. Various cutaways of audience
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Francois Fillon, French Prime Minister:
"From the beginning of the creation of the EU (European Union), we got stronger by overcoming various crises. So, there is no reason we cannot do that this time. With more crises, we can tighten our ties by understanding each other more closely to find new solutions."
4. Cutaway of the audience
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Francois Fillon, French Prime Minister:
"I am not concerned by the Euro currency rate for the mid to long term. But, like I just said, in the framework of the G20, we engage in a deep discussion about how to provide stability for our financial system through mechanisms that avoid dramatic exchange rate fluctuations, but without returning to an older system which did not work and is not relevant to the current situation. Instead, finally creating a system between China, Japan, US and Europe that benefits investors and businessmen who push real growth rather than for speculators who makes profit from currency instability."
6. Wide of Fillon at podium
STORYLINE:
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told a Japanese audience Friday that the euro would bounce back from its recent troubles, stating his confidence that the currency would soon emerge even stronger.
Speaking to business leaders in Tokyo, Fillon sought to reassure investors that the European Union and its common currency are not in peril.
"From the beginning of the creation of the EU, we got stronger by overcoming various crises," Fillon said. "There is no reason we cannot do that this time."
Fillon also encouraged efforts to tighten financial regulations claiming that the developed world needs a system that "benefits investors and businessmen who push real growth rather than for speculators who makes profit from currency instability."
Fillon was speaking ahead of a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, at his official residence later on Friday as part of his two-day visit to the country.
He is set to depart Japan Friday evening local time.
France was a driving force in the 1992 creation of the euro, the culmination of a half-century of efforts to integrate Europe.
The near collapse of Greece, colossal public debt and the sharp slide in the euro has led some in France to question whether the euro should continue to exist, and what would remain of Europe it if did not.

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