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US, France bury the hatchet
07/11/2007 09:17 - (SA)
Washington - Washington and Paris buried the hatchet on Tuesday as US President George W Bush warmly greeted his French counterpart at the White House, abandoning several years of strained relations over the Iraq war.
The pair toasted their new relationship at a black-tie dinner inside the White House as Bush welcomed President Nicolas Sarkozy by saying in French: "Bienvenue a la Maison Blanche".
Sarkozy, who arrived on his first official visit to Washington to a red-carpet welcome, said he came with a simple message: "To re-conquer the heart of America in a lasting fashion."
The evening kicked off with the ritzy meal of Maine lobster bisque and Elysian farm lamb accompanied by Napa Valley wine, and was to be followed on Wednesday by a rare address by a foreign leader to both houses of Congress.
In contrast to the last official US visit by a French president in 2001 - when Jacques Chirac earned US consternation for hailing France as an antidote to American "hyperpower" -- Sarkozy quipped that one can "be a friend of America and win election in France!"
Elected in May, the leader often called "Sarko the American" is one of the most pro-US French leaders in decades and clearly aims to show Bush that France has turned a page on the past.
Strained relations
Even if the crisis over the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq never led to a complete break in cross-Atlantic co-operation, relations have been notably cool for several years.
"France and the United States can meet great challenges when we work together, Mr President," Bush told Sarkozy. "You and I share a commitment to deepen the co-operation of our two republics - and through this co-operation, we can make the world a better place."
Sarkozy - who frequently highlights "the historic friendship" between France and the United States even though such talk still rankles some of his countrymen who remain wary of all things American - hailed US courage after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
"On 9/11 terrorists thought that they had brought, or they could bring America to its knees. And I will tell you that, seen from the French perspective, never has America seemed so great, so proud, so admirable as on 9/11."
An Elysee spokesperson said that during the visit Bush and Sarkozy would discuss "all the main international dossiers, whether regional crises or big strategic questions".
The two are in close agreement on many issues such as the Iran nuclear standoff, where Paris has given strong support for the US attempt to secure stronger sanctions.
- AFP
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