First Putin then Sarkozy: The Bushes welcome the French

President to the family compound in Kennebunkport, Aug. 11

Le Monde, France

President Sarkozy in America:

The White House is 'Delighted'

"The lunch at Kennebunkport was organized to create the atmosphere of a family gathering - an unimaginable scenario with [former President] Jacques Chirac due to his 'treason' over Iraq"

By Christophe Jakubyszyn

Translated By Sandrine Ageorges

August 11, 2007

France - Le Monde - Original; Article (French)

Elysium [France's Presidential Palace] confirms: the "American arrangements" of Nicolas Sarkozy are just beginning. In the middle of his vacation in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, the Sarkozy couple is expected for lunch on Saturday [Aug. 11] by the Bush family at their residence in Kennebunkport, Maine WATCH .

In September, from the 23rd to the 26th, the French president will travel to New York to attend the meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. One month later, "rather toward the end of the month" states the Elysée, he will be on an official visit to Washington. The White House is delighted. White House spokesman Tony Snow emphasized on Wednesday [Aug. 8]:  "We are at the beginning of a new era in Franco-American relations" WATCH  [Go to 00:19:00 for comments on Sarkozy].

A sign of this Franco-American "warming," the lunch at Kennebunkport was organized to create the atmosphere of a family gathering - an unimaginable scenario with [former President] Jacques Chirac due to his "treason" over Iraq. The official version is that the invitation was first offered by Laura Bush to Cécilia Sarokozy during the G8 summit on July 5th. Confidentially, the American first lady was then told by Mrs. Sarkozy of the location of their vacation, just 50 miles from the Bush residence.

[Editor's Note: At the last minute, Mrs. Sarkozy decided not to come. AFP attributes her failure to appear to angine blanche," or in other words, a throat infection. She and her children had all been supposedly stricken.]

SUSPICION OF ALLEGIANCE

To make a success of his "American arrangements," President Sarkozy will first have to erase the image of candidate Sarkozy, who appeared to swear his allegiance to Bush during a short visit to the White House in September 2006. With an American President weakened domestically, the French President has displayed his newfound legitimacy and the advantages that his "influence" in Europe give him by reaching a slimmed down treaty to strengthen the European Union on June 23, called the "Compromise of the Twenty Seven [there are 27 members of the E.U. ]." To this, one can add his role in the July 24 release of six Bulgarian nurses and a doctor, who had been detained in Libya.

The rupture [between new and old French Governments - part of Sarkozy's election campaign] that was initially sought by the President is, according to the Elysée, a rupture in terms of style. "Relations between the two nations are closely tied to the personalities of their leaders," explained a spokesperson. The spokesman from White House [Tony Snow] is on the same wavelength: "President Bush believes in the necessity of developing personal relationships with other heads of state."

Mr. Sarkozy wants to seize this opportunity to establish a more stable relationship with the United States. The French president, even if this is not a question of attending a summit, intends to raise the main issues surrounding current international events – Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Darfur.

At its root, "this isn't because we have changed presidents and that there is a diplomatic change," warns Elysée, even if the President believes that from hereon in, "there is much consensus on many issues between the United States and France," including in the issue of Iraq. President Chirac himself had begun a "rapprochement" with America on this issue, stating in his book My Battle for Peace (Mon combat pour la paix, March 2007) that "no one regretted the disappearance of Saddam Hussein."

'A HISTORIC MISTAKE'

Similarly, even before he was elected, Nicolas Sarkozy embraced the heritage of France's stand on Iraq. While in 2003, he offered an "alternative" to - and didn't hide his disapproval of - the veto-blackmail used by France on its American ally, he clearly stated in January [2004] that essentially, the war in Iraq had been a "historic mistake."

"Friendship means accepting that friends can think differently," he explained.

The importance of the Iraqi issue during the 2008 American election campaign "means the White House realizes that we all are in the same boat, and that we have all arrived at the same analysis of the situation, despite some nuances about methods of implementation," reckons a French diplomatic source.

From "nuance" to "disagreement," is nevertheless just a short step. On Iranian nuclear power, France continues to voice a more diplomatic view. "Traditionally French diplomacy seeks to exhaust all political remedies," confirms the Elysée. In regard to Darfur, Americans have congratulated themselves that France has adopted a similar position with regard to Khartoum, but would prefer that Paris not exclude applying unilateral trade sanctions against Sudan. On Iran, there is nothing to indicate that the French scenario of diplomatic pressure will contain American impatience much longer.

On Afghanistan, the United-States is worried about the ambiguity of Mr. Sarkozy on the duration of France's commitment, at a moment when Canada and The Netherlands are considering withdrawal - or at least a partial one.

And finally there is Lebanon, where France fears watching its own military commitment turn into a trap, and the United-States doubts the effectiveness of French moves with regard to Syria.

SEE ALSO:

Le Figaro, France

The View From France: Bush

and Sarkozy Have a Picnic ...

http://www.watchingamerica.com/lefigaro0000180.shtml

Le Monde, France

With Bush, Sarkozy Steals

Angela Merkel's Thunder …

http://www.watchingamerica.com/lemonde0000155.shtml

Journal du Dimanche au Quotidien, France

Showing Open Friendship

for Bush a 'Major Error' …

http://www.watchingamerica.com/journaldudimancheauquotidien000002.shtml

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