Letter: Cultural Rocky patch

Sir: With reference to Julian Nundy's article ('France defends its heritage from 'Rocky III' ', 22 November), am I the only reader on whom the irony of Edouard Balladur's comments was not lost?

I seem to recall that fairly recently, Rocky himself (Sylvester Stallone) was awarded the highest cultural honour that the French nation can bestow, the Ordre des Lettres et des Arts. Admittedly, this award was made on the initiative of Jack Lang (the previous French minister of culture), but French cultural policy has not altered significantly since then, as it appears, and the protestations of the current administration have a hollow anti-populist ring to them.

Yours faithfully

GODWIN BUSUTTIL

London, WC2