Girls' day out: Carla met with 10 African countries first ladies for tea, who are in France to take part in its national celebrations
'The purpose of this gathering is not to celebrate your independence, you do it very well yourselves.
'But it is to celebrate the strong ties that history has forged between our peoples and to build for a better future.'
The 13 countries expected to take part in today's parade are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Ivory Coast declined the invitation.
Carla Bruni and Cameroon's first lady Chantal Biya attend the annual Bastille Day parade in Paris.It's not often Carla Bruni is overshadowed, but when the French President's wife sat next to the First Lady of Cameroon during the Bastille Day parade, all attention shifted to the African's trademark red hair.
Chantal Biya, who dressed in teal for the occasion, is famed for big hairdos in her home country.
Her signature look, blow-dried to add layers of volume, is called the 'banane'.
Nicholas Sarkozy wins the female vote as he kisses his wife's hand
Chantal Biya, who dressed in teal for the occasion, is famed for big hairdos in her home country.
Her signature look, blow-dried to add layers of volume, is called the 'banane'.
Nicholas Sarkozy wins the female vote as he kisses his wife's handMeanwhile the day is clouded by Carla's husband Nicholas Sarkozy who was today fiercely criticised for choosing to celebrate Bastille Day with some of the most notorious war criminals in the world.
In what has been described as a cynical publicity stunt, the French President and his wife will line up in Paris with dictators from former African colonies.
Their troops, meanwhile, will march down the Champs Elysee in dress uniforms, despite the fact that many have been linked with murder and torture.
Lady in red: Carla welcomesChantal Biya yesterday at the Elysee Palace in Paris
The pair appear to be getting along despite their different tastes in fashion
Most controversial of all are the military representatives from Chad, who took part in a coup d'etat two years ago.
Mr Sarkozy, meanwhile, insisted that France had made a clean-break with its colonial past, and simply wanted to invited old friends to celebrate its national celebration. Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the old Paris prison during the French Revolution in 1789.
Mr Sarkozy told African leaders before the parade: 'Some people have criticised the invitation I made to participate in the July 14 parade.
Hair-raising: Chantal's trademark blow-dried style is popular in Cameroon and known as the 'banane'
And the hairstyle has certainly helped get Mrs Biya -who has in the past been pictured partying with heiress Paris Hilton and former British First Lady Sarah Brown - noticed.
Carla opted for her usual demure look in a simple but elegant black dress and kitten heels for the celebrations.
Fourteen African countries are guests of honour today, parading beside the French army on the Champs Elysees.
In what has been described as a cynical publicity stunt, the French President and his wife will line up in Paris with dictators from former African colonies.
Their troops, meanwhile, will march down the Champs Elysee in dress uniforms, despite the fact that many have been linked with murder and torture.
Lady in red: Carla welcomesChantal Biya yesterday at the Elysee Palace in Paris
The pair appear to be getting along despite their different tastes in fashion
Most controversial of all are the military representatives from Chad, who took part in a coup d'etat two years ago.
Mr Sarkozy, meanwhile, insisted that France had made a clean-break with its colonial past, and simply wanted to invited old friends to celebrate its national celebration. Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the old Paris prison during the French Revolution in 1789.
Mr Sarkozy told African leaders before the parade: 'Some people have criticised the invitation I made to participate in the July 14 parade.
Hair-raising: Chantal's trademark blow-dried style is popular in Cameroon and known as the 'banane'And the hairstyle has certainly helped get Mrs Biya -who has in the past been pictured partying with heiress Paris Hilton and former British First Lady Sarah Brown - noticed.
Carla opted for her usual demure look in a simple but elegant black dress and kitten heels for the celebrations.
Fourteen African countries are guests of honour today, parading beside the French army on the Champs Elysees.
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