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MAINE - President George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday stressed friendship over disagreement before a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs at the Bush family estate aimed at improving relations strained by the Iraq war.
Bush called Sarkozy "a friend" while waiting with his wife, Laura, and parents to greet the French leader on the driveway of the family's compound in Kennebunkport.
"We've got good relations with France. Obviously there's been disagreements," Bush said.
"We have had disagreements on Iraq in particular. I've never allowed disagreements to not find other ways to work together," he told reporters.
The United States hopes for improved ties with France under Sarkozy after relations chilled with his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who opposed the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Sarkozy, casual in blue jeans, said: "Even within families there are disagreements, but we are still the same family."
- Reuters
