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Bush, Sarkozy on 'casual lunch'
11/08/2007 12:54 - (SA)
Kennebunkport - President George
W Bush will host French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a "casual
lunch" at his family home in Maine on Saturday, signalling
warmer US ties with France after strains over the Iraq war.
It was a rare invitation. Only one other world leader has
been invited by Bush to his family's seaside compound along the
rocky coast of Maine - Russian President Vladimir Putin in
July to try and soothe escalating tensions over US missile
defence plans in Europe.
The United States is hoping for improved ties with France
under Sarkozy, after relations chilled with his predecessor,
Jacques Chirac, who voiced opposition to the 2003 US-led
invasion of Iraq.
Bush usually invites foreign allies to his ranch in
Crawford, Texas, to show a special relationship.
The last head
of state to visit Bush's Texas ranch was Colombian President
Alvaro Uribe in August 2005.
Sarkozy on vacation
White House spokesperson Dana Perino said "geography" played
a role in the Kennebunkport venue for the two leader meetings
this summer - Sarkozy was on vacation in nearby New Hampshire
and Putin was heading to Latin America.
Sarkozy, who took office in May, was criticised in France
for choosing the United States for his first vacation as
president.
He briefly interrupted his American holiday to fly
back to France to attend the funeral of Cardinal Jean-Marie
Lustiger on Friday, but returned to visit Bush in Maine.
Bush started a working vacation in this resort town to
attend the wedding of a family friend. He has gone biking, and
out on a boat with his father, former President George Bush,
and brother Jeb, to do some fishing.
The Bush invitation to Sarkozy and his wife, Cecilia, was
extended during the Group of Eight meeting in Germany in June.
"It's a casual lunch," Perino said. "As when any world
leader gets together with another, there's a possibility that
they could discuss business," she said.
"Obviously we're working very closely with France right now
on a range of issues," Perino said, noting efforts at the UN
Security Council on Lebanon, Sudan and Iran.
'Bienvenue, President Sarkozy'
A US climate change summit in September may also come up
in conversation during the lunch, expected to last about 90
minutes, Perino said.
A Portland Press Herald newspaper editorial on Friday
exclaimed: "Bienvenue, President Nicolas Sarkozy!" and said the
French leader should consider vacationing in Maine instead of
New Hampshire.
The editorial ended: "After all, a number of us speak
French, and this is Vacationland. See you next summer?"
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