London, January 22
Former supermodel Carla Bruni has said she would not accompany French President Nicolas Sarkozy on a state visit to India as they’re yet to wed.

“We are not yet married though it is in our plans. (So) I cannot take part in an official trip with the President,” leading French daily the “Liberation” reported today, quoting Bruni as saying.

Bruni’s status has become a matter of protocol for Indian officials who’re awaiting a clue from the Elysee Palace on whether she would be part of the French delegation for the state visit on Friday and Saturday, before deciding where to put her in official banquets.

There’s also the crucial question of where Bruni will sit to watch the Republic Day parade on January 26 where her newfound love is the guest of honour. Bruni met the 52-year-old President in November, a month after he divorced his wife Ccilia of 11 years.

“French people are always negative. They’re also crazy about their own language, so every time there’s something that’s not in French, they get so mad about it,” Bruni had told a British newspaper last week.

However, she had said that she likened the 52-year-old Sarkozy to the pop star Prince and Napoleon Bonaparte, saying they were short men with “attitude”. But when asked if short men had more attitude than taller men, she had said: “Well there’s something in that — Napoleon, Sarkozy....” — PTI