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French historians consulted by government over "French identity"

Prime Minister François Fillon of France announced a few symbolic measures on Monday to provide concrete results from France’s bitterly contentious debate over “national identity.”

In a special cabinet meeting, Mr. Fillon also threw the discussion, initiated several months ago by President Nicolas Sarkozy, to an “experts committee” of politicians and historians, bringing the debate to an end in its current public form....

Mr. Fillon said that French schools will now be ordered to fly the French flag and to have a copy of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in every classroom....

Mr. Fillon said that French schools will now be ordered to fly the French flag and to have a copy of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in every classroom.
Read entire article at NYT