French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) talk with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) prior to a working session on the second day of an EU summit at the European Council headquarters on June 19, 2009 in Brussels. The European Union has reached a "draft deal" on guarantees that could lead to a new Irish referendum on a key package of reforms that Ireland rejected last year, diplomats said Friday. Getty Images logo Getty Images 4 months ago

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) talk with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) prior to a working session on the second day of an EU summit at the European Council headquarters on June 19, 2009 in Brussels. The European Union has reached a "draft deal" on guarantees that could lead to a new Irish referendum on a key package of reforms that Ireland rejected last year, diplomats said Friday.

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  1. France's Foreign and European Affairs minister Bernard Kouchner leaves the Elysee Palace after the weekly cabinet meeting, on October 7, 2009 in Paris.
  2. France's Foreign and European Affairs minister Bernard Kouchner addresses journalists as he leaves the Elysee Palace after the weekly cabinet meeting, on October 7, 2009 in Paris.
  3. France's Foreign and European Affairs minister Bernard Kouchner addresses journalists as he leaves the Elysee Palace after the weekly cabinet meeting, on October 7, 2009 in Paris.
  4. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner looks on during his meeting with human rights advocates and activists of remedial fund 'Memorial' in Moscow on October 1, 2009. Kouchner is expected to discuss Medvedev's proposal for a new European security pact, an idea that has received a lukewarm response from Europe so far.
  5. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner departs from his meeting with human rights advocates and activists of remedial fund 'Memorial' in Moscow on October 1, 2009. Kouchner is expected to discuss Medvedev's proposal for a new European security pact, an idea that has received a lukewarm response from Europe so far.
  6. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L) talks during his meeting with human rights advocates and activists of remedial fund 'Memorial' in Moscow on October 1, 2009. Kouchner is expected to discuss Medvedev's proposal for a new European security pact, an idea that has received a lukewarm response from Europe so far.
  7. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) tastes a piece of cheese as he visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.
  8. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.
  9. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) speaks with France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand (R) before inaugurating a major exhibit of art from Turkey at the Grand Palais in Paris October 9, 2009. Culture Minister Mitterrand is facing calls for his resignation for having written about paying boys for sex in Thailand, revelations that were made in a 2005 autobiography "The Bad Life". Jean-David Levitte (2ndL) is President Sarkozy's diplomatic advisor.
  10. A member of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, writes on a board the 2008 French President Nicolas Sarkozy' promises as the workers prepare a symbolic meeting with the president. In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.
  11. Members of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, answer to journalists as they wait for the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, preparing a symbolic meeting (with President's chair vacant). In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.
  12. Members of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, answer to journalists as they wait for the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, preparing a symbolic meeting (with President's chair vacant). In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.
  13. Former United States secretary of state Henry Kissinger (L) speaks with former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev at the 'Museum of the Glienicker Bridge' housed in the 19th century Schoeningen villa in Potsdam and opened by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 8, 2009 as part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 2009.
  14. Former United States secretary of state Henry Kissinger (L) speaks with former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev at the 'Museum of the Glienicker Bridge' housed in the 19th century Schoeningen villa in Potsdam and opened by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 8, 2009 as part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 2009.
  15. German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks at the opening of the 'Museum of the Glienicker Bridge' housed in the 19th century Schoeningen villa in Potsdam on November 8, 2009 as part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 2009.
  16. (L to R) Members of anty-poverty group Oxfam wearing masks of world leaders US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel move paper money from an aid money box to a climate money box on November 5, 2009, in Barcelona. Some 180 countries hold climate talks during the Barcelona Climate Change Talks before December's Copenhagen conference tasked with tackling the threat of global warming.

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  1. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama delivers Buddhist teachings in Tawang in the northeastern Indian state of Arunchal Pradesh November 9, 2009. Thousands of Buddhist monks and supporters welcomed Tibet's exiled spiritual leader on Sunday to a remote Indian region also claimed by China, a trip that has renewed tensions between the Asian giants. The visit, as well as reports of border incursions in recent months, has triggered tensions between the world's two most populous nations, whose relations remain hostage to mutual suspicion lingering from a brief 1962 border war.
  2. A Buddhist man and his son wait outside a hospital with a traditional white scarf to welcome their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Tawang in the northeastern Indian state of Arunchal Pradesh November 9, 2009. Thousands of Buddhist monks and supporters welcomed Tibet's exiled spiritual leader on Sunday to a remote Indian region also claimed by China, a trip that has renewed tensions between the Asian giants. The visit, as well as reports of border incursions in recent months, has triggered tensions between the world's two most populous nations, whose relations remain hostage to mutual suspicion lingering from a brief 1962 border war.
  3. People collect food staples as permitted by the state rationing system at a government-run food store called "Bodega" in Sagua La Grande, Villaclara Province, central Cuba November 8, 2009.
  4. A worker holds a rationing booklet at a government-run food store called "Bodega" in Sagua La Grande, Villaclara Province, central Cuba November 8, 2009.
  5. A dog enjoys the view from the window of a residential building in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  6. A Nepalese flower vendor smokes as she waits for customers outside a temple in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  7. A Nepalese flower vendor waits for customers outside a temple in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  8. A Nepalese man touches the wall of a temple in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  9. NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: Recording Artist Little Jimmy Dickens presents Larry Weekley Grandson of Tootsie Bess her induction into the Music City Walk of Fame. At Hall of Fame Park on November 8, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
  10. NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: Larry Weekley Grandson of Tootsie Bess and Singer & Songwriter Little Jimmy Dickens pose with Toostie Bess's star as she is inducteed into the Music City Walk of Fame. At Hall of Fame Park on November 8, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
  11. NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: Recording Artist Owen Bradley (right) with Ernest Tubb Jr. accepts for his father Ernest Tubb as he is inducteed into the Music City Walk of Fame and receives his star, At Hall of Fame Park on November 8, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
  12. NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: Ernest Tubb Jr. accepts induction of his father Ernest Tubb into the Music City Walk of Fame and receives his star, at Hall of Fame Park on November 8, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
  13. NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: Recording Artist Little Jimmy Dickens speaks about Legend Tootsie Bess during her induction into the Music City Walk of Fame, At Hall of Fame Park on November 8, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
  14. NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: Recording Artist Owen Bradley speaks about Musician Ernest Tubb during his induction into the Music City Walk of Fame, At Hall of Fame Park on November 8, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
  15. Nepalese women offer prayers at a temple in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  16. A Nepalese woman, right, rotates the prayer wheels at a temple in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.