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France refused yesterday to sign a declaration supporting democracy which it described as an attempt to foist a "new religion" on the Third World.
The diplomatic row erupted at a conference of 108 democratic nations in Warsaw.
Delegations from 107 countries signed a declaration "encouraging political leaders to uphold the values of tolerance and compromise". But France, represented by Hubert Védrine, the Foreign Minister, denounced it as overly doctrinal.
"The bottom line is that western countries think a little too much that democracy is a religion and the only thing you have to do is convert people," said M Védrine.
Madeleine Albright, US Secretary of State, said democracy was "not a religion but a faith which has influenced the lives of people throughout the world".
Harry de Quetteville, Paris