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French President Nicolas Sarkozy firmly realigned France's foreign policy toward Canada yesterday, distancing himself from Quebec sovereigntists and saying he no longer wants to choose between Canada and Quebec.

In Normandy, while standing next to Governor-General Michaëlle Jean in a ceremony at the Bény-sur-Mer cemetery for Canadian soldiers killed during the Second World War, Mr. Sarkozy all but abandoned France's long-standing policy of "non-interference and non-indifference" toward Quebec's independence movement.

"You know, we are very close to Quebec, but I want to tell you, we also love Canada very much. Our two friendships, our two loyalties don't oppose each other," he said. "We will take them and turn towards the future so the future of Canada and France becomes the future of two countries, that are not only allies, but two friends."

In his most vibrant plea yet in favour of Canadian national unity, Mr. Sarkozy embraced the sacrifice all Canadians made in liberating France during the war.

"We didn't ask those who died here what region [of Canada] they were from. We knew what country they were from. We didn't even ask them what language they spoke. Those buried here, even if they didn't speak our language, saved us and helped us," he said.

The comments were made in the midst of a controversy over the Governor-General's presence in France to kick off celebrations of Quebec City's 400th anniversary. Mr. Sarkozy appeared to side with the Governor-General.

In her interpretation of the anniversary, Ms. Jean argued that the founding of Quebec City in 1608 marked the beginning of Canada and not just the foundation of Quebec as a French-speaking nation in North America. She urged France to look beyond Quebec and help francophones throughout Canada preserve their language and culture, insisting that Quebec City's 400th anniversary belonged to all Canadians.

Her comments sparked a flurry of recriminations from sovereigntists, who accused Ms. Jean and the federal government of attempting to rewrite Quebec history. The absence of Quebec Premier Jean Charest from the ceremony only fuelled the controversy.

"There are 250 years that separate the foundation of Quebec City and the birth of Canada," Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois said yesterday. "A lot of things happened during those 250 years ... a people was conquered, a people was annexed. ... Not once did Michaëlle Jean mention the Quebec nation as she reiterated the idea that there existed only one people in Canada."

The Leader of the Official Opposition in Quebec, Mario Dumont, expressed serious concerns over the direction Quebec-France relations are taking, accusing Mr. Charest of abdicating to Ottawa his role as the true spokesperson for the Quebec nation.

"The more we see this relation become more Canadian in its approach, less bilateral between France and Quebec ... the more we are worried," Mr. Dumont said. "In a love triangle, there is a thin line between being the neglected lover and the cuckolded party," he noted, adding that Mr. Charest was content to be overshadowed by Ottawa.

The Premier responded angrily, calling Mr. Dumont's comments pitiful. In the National Assembly, Mr. Charest sided with the Governor-General, insisting that Quebec is an integral part of Canada.

"Canada would not exist without Quebec ... it is a reality which defines us as a people, as a nation," he said.