Bruni steps out as 1st lady
2008-02-24 08:58
Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's new wife Carla Bruni attended her first official function on Saturday, meeting the family of French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt to mark her sixth year in captivity.
The president and first lady met Betancourt's daughter, son
and ex-husband, as well as former congresswoman Consuelo
Gonzalez who was freed in January by the Colombian Marxist
rebels who also kidnapped Betancourt in 2002.
Betancourt, a former Colombian presidential candidate, is
among dozens of high-profile captives held by the guerrillas,
and Sarkozy has made her release a foreign policy priority.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visited Caracas and
Bogota this week to press for her release.
Betancourt's daughter Melanie Delloye said after the meeting
that she was moved by Bruni's remarks to the family.
"She was listening carefully and her words to us were very
touching," she said.
Bruni, a former top model turned singer, will make her first
official trip with her husband to Britain in March.
Sarkozy's popularity has been hit by his high-profile
whirlwind romance and marriage to Carla earlier this month.
- Reuters