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Obama, French President Sarkozy Reaffirm Ties, Unity on Iran

VOA News 30 March 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama says he and the French president have reaffirmed the ties between their countries, and said the two nations and their allies are united in their determination to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Mr. Obama with his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, at the White House for talks focused on Iran, global warming and Afghanistan.

The U.S. president said he and Mr. Sarkozy also talked about economic conditions. He said the two leaders agreed to work aggressively to sustain economic growth, and for economic oversight to replace what he called "the old cycle of bubble and bust."

In his remarks, Mr. Sarkozy offered support for President Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan.

Earlier Tuesday, A White House spokesman said a push from both leaders will be "incredibly important" to get United Nations sanctions placed on Iran for its refusal to stop sensitive nuclear activities.

Mr. Obama wants Mr. Sarkozy to send more French troops, and military or police trainers to Afghanistan. In a speech Monday at Columbia University in New York, President Sarkozy said his country will remain by the U.S. in Afghanistan. However, he has not said whether France would send more troops.

France has about 3,750 troops and trainers in Afghanistan. The White House spokesman said Mr. Obama was not expected to ask the French president to increase its forces there.

Tuesday evening, Mr. Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will be the guests of Mr. Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at a private White House dinner.

French officials describe the visit as an opportunity to reinforce personal ties between the presidents. U.S.-French relations had cooled under former U.S. President George W. Bush, especially with France's opposition to the Iraq war.

In New York Monday, Mr. Sarkozy also called on the U.S. to work with Europe in creating new regulations to prevent future economic crises, and to reflect on what it means to be the world's number one power.

Mr. Sarkozy's approval rating at home has sunk to 30 percent, its lowest level since he took office in 2007. Opposition Socialists trounced his conservative UMP party in this month's regional elections.