Armistice Day: Emmanuel Macron warns of nationalism's threat to world peace
Armistice Day: Emmanuel Macron warns of nationalism's threat to world peace as world leaders attend Paris commemorations
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned of the dangers of nationalism at a gathering of world leaders marking the end of World War I 100 years ago, in a message seemingly directed towards US President Donald Trump.
Key points:
Emmanuel Macron says patriotism is exact opposite of nationalism
Leaders arrive late for 11:00am commemoration to mark when WWI ended 100 years ago
Trump, Merkel, Putin among attendees, as well as Australia's Governor-General
More than 60 heads of state and government gathered in Paris for a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the mute and powerful symbol of sacrifice to the millions who died from 1914-18.
Mr Macron warned of the "old demons" of nationalism threatening world peace, saying, "The traces of this war never went away".
"We must reaffirm before our peoples our true and huge responsibility.
"Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism," Mr Macron said, adding that, when nations put their interests first and decide, "who cares about the others" they "erase the most precious thing a nation can have … its moral values.
"The lessons we draw from the Great War cannot be rancour and resentment among other nations and it cannot be allowing the past to be forgotten."