Jacques Chirac’s memoirs published in Arabic

Abu Dhabi-based translation project Kalima is to publish an Arabic translation of the memoirs of former French President Jacques Chirac, whose political career spanned four decades.

For Kalima to obtain the rights to publish this book in Arabic is yet another indication of the prestigious position which the translation project has obtained within the publishing world. Kalima considers the translation of such an important book to be a contribution towards a better understanding between the Arab World and the West, and another bridge between the cultures.

Chaque Pas Doit Être Un But (or Every Step Must be a Goal) is the first volume of Chirac’s memoirs, published in France in November 2009. Like many other politicians, Chirac wanted to use his memoirs to highlight his roles in certain events, to expose a number of secrets and even to settle scores with others. The publication of the memoirs attracted worldwide attention, with sales exceeding 200,000, proving the continuing popularity of the former president despite three years out of office and a fair amount of scandal; including Chirac’s indictment on corruption charges, which was fresh in the public’s mind.

The first volume, now translated into Arabic for the first time, documents Chirac’s life from his childhood years in rural France to his rise through the political system, his years as Mayor of Paris right up to his election to President in 1995. It charts the remarkable rise of a man who was to spend four decades at the top of the political game, offering remarkable insights into the behind-the-scenes interaction with other figures on the world stage. He reveals a deep personal respect for Margaret Thatcher, despite public clashes with her: “What more does this housewife want from me?” he famously remarked to an aide.

Of particular interest will be Chirac’s relationship with the Arab World, which first started when he did his military service in Algeria during the French occupation. He discusses atrocities committed by the French troops, even though he was not personally involved. He also documents his relationship with Saddam Hussein, from cordiality in the 1970s – when Hussein was seen as a strong, clever leader fighting to free his country from soviet dominance – to the later years of his brutal regime and finally Chirac’s shock at the way Hussein was executed. He also documents his relationship with Gaddafi's Libya, especially his refusal to accept the former US President Ronald Regan's request to allow US fighter jets to bomb Tripoli using French airspace in 1986.

Kalima, a translation project funded by the Abu Dhabi authority for Culture and Heritage, was founded to increase cross-cultural understandings between the Arab world and the international community. The publication of Chirac’s memoirs follows the publication of other important political memoirs and accounts of world history, such as Barack Obama’s Dreams of My Father.