Asia-Pacific

Obama, Sarkozy chummy at White House meeting

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-31 09:40

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy went out of their way on Tuesday to show there are no frictions between them.

Obama, Sarkozy chummy at White House meeting

US President Barack Obama shakes hands with French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, March 30, 2010. [Agencies]

The two leaders displayed a friendly manner at a joint news conference, and later sat down for a White House dinner with their wives, Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni, and interpreters.

"I think we can say that rarely in the history of our two countries has the community of views been so identical between the United States of America and France," Sarkozy declared at the news conference.

Sarkozy's visit provided an opportunity to dispel an impression in France of frictions.

Obama has visited France twice, but was widely perceived to have snubbed Sarkozy last year when he turned down the offer of a state dinner, preferring instead to dine alone with his wife at a restaurant.

At the news conference, Obama hailed Sarkozy for taking his wife to lunch at Ben's Chili Bowl, a popular Washington eatery that serves chili, hamburgers, hot dogs and other American fast-food fare.

"Now, I have to point out that the French are properly famous for their cuisine, and so the fact that Nicolas went to Ben's Chili Bowl for lunch I think shows his discriminating palate," Obama said as Sarkozy beamed.

Sarkozy, who said in New York on Monday that no single country "run the world alone," was asked if it seemed Obama was open and listening to the world.

Before Sarkozy could answer, Obama interjected with a smile:

"I listen to Nicolas all the time. I can't stop listening to him."

Sarkozy said he and European counterparts, Angela Merkel of Germany and Gordon Brown of Britain, have found Obama easy to work with "because President Obama, when he says something, keeps his word."

"His word is his bond. And that is so important. There's a joke among us -- we don't like surprises. Well, from my point of view, there's no surprises. When he can, he delivers. When he can't, he says so," Sarkozy said.