Posted on 08/10/2007 2:19:37 PM PDT by Cincinna
Sarkozy's trip to seal US entente
By the time Nicolas Sarkozy arrives for his meeting on Saturday with President George W. Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine, he will have travelled nearly 7,000 miles in two days.
The French president's meeting at the Bush family's ocean-front compound was planned to coincide with his holiday 50 miles (80km) away at Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. But he returned home Friday to attend the funeral of Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, the archbishop of Paris, who died last Sunday. He was scheduled to fly back across the Atlantic immediately after the multi-faith service in order to keep his lunch appointment with the US president.
Mr Sarkozy's refusal to cancel underlines the symbolic importance of the meeting in spite of efforts by both sides to portray it as an informal event. The encounter is intended to deepen the two leaders' personal relationship in a more casual environment than their first meeting at the Group of Eight summit in Germany in June.
Mr Sarkozy's election victory in May was heralded as a turning point in US-French relations, because he is considered more pro-American than his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.
His choice of the US as the place to spend his first holiday since taking office was viewed on both sides of the Atlantic as a reinforcement of his Atlanticist credentials.
Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, praised Mr Sarkozy's choice of destination, saying: "He certainly picked a good country to visit, didn't he?
"It looks like we're on the verge of a new era of relations with the French, which is a good thing."
Mr Snow said the meeting would be mainly a social occasion, with each leader's wife and Mr Bush's father, the former president George H. W. Bush, in attendance. But he acknowledged that the two leaders were likely to set aside some time to talk about international affairs.
Simon Serfaty, a Europe expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the meeting was an important sign of improved US-French relations after years of acrimony over French opposition to the war in Iraq.
Mr Serfaty said it was important for Mr Sarkozy to build a good relationship with Mr Bush even though the US president has less than 18 months left in office.
"Europe is too focused on January 2009," he said, referring to the inauguration of the next US president. "There are several international issues that could get significantly worse in the next 18 months, so Europe needs to keep working with Bush."
Among thorny issues that require transatlantic co-operation are Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Lebanon and the Middle East peace process.
"To have a better relationship between the US and Europe there needs to be a better relationship between Washington and Paris," said Mr Serfaty.
Mr Sarkozy is the second head of state to be hosted by Mr Bush at Kennebunkport, after the visit of President Vladimir Putin of Russia last month. Until recently, Mr Bush had preferred to invite foreign leaders to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
A White House spokesman said the Bushes were likely to take Mr Sarkozy on a boat trip off Maine, giving the French president an opportunity to outdo the 30in striped bass caught by Mr Putin.
The two men have much in common.
Let's hope this is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Sarko arrives back in Wolfeboro, N.H. this evening after attending the funeral of Cardinal Lustiger at Notre Dame this morning.
Tomorrow morning, he and his family will make their way up the Coast to Kennebunkport to spend the afternoon with the Bushes.
We wish him Godspeed on his long travels, and pray that this meeting will be the beginning of a new era a Franco-American friendship and cooperation.
Amen! Thanks for the ping. Good of Sarko to go back for the funeral, very good.
When you loook at all the places to go, the USA is cheap. You get the greatest bang for your Euros.
Sarko probably realizes that he’ll need the US after war starts in Eurabia.
Gone Fishing!
“Sarkozy’s trip to seal US entente”
They must make some mighty big tents in France!
I just want to know how they’re going to seal it!
;)
“Sarkozy’s trip to seal US entente”
They must make some mighty big tents in France!
I just want to know how they’re going to seal it!
;)
i like a guy who pays respects to the dead, leaving his vacation to fly thousands of miles, and then who insists on keeping his appointment with our presidents, pere et fils, by flying thousands of miles back in a short time span. i’m liking this guy Sarkozy’s character a lot.
I travel to France regularly. There are a LOT of folks there who like Americans. There are a lot that speak English and are happy to do so. Thirty years ago almost no one spoke it.
Don’t believe all the hype about how awful the French are. Most of that negativity was the result of Chirac and the two presidents before him.
Sarko is a lot more like the average person.
I lived in Paris several years ago and very few French spoke English at that time. You are correct many French speak English (mostly younger) today. I also fond that they spoke pretty good English.
I am not sure if it is because of liking Americans. They realize that English is now and will be for the foreseeable future the language of the world. Look at the English speakers who surround them. Most being their second language, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Austria, Holland, Finland, Italy, Spain, even Russia and Ukraine have many who speak reasonable English.
I lived and traveled although these areas and fond no problem communicating.
Simon Serfaty, a Europe expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said... "Europe is too focused on January 2009," he said, referring to the inauguration of the next US president. "There are several international issues that could get significantly worse in the next 18 months, so Europe needs to keep working with Bush."Thanks Cincinna.
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