French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, waves, as he welcomes US senator and Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama. Photograph: Horacio Villalobos/EPA
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and French president Nicolas Sarkozy today called on their respective nations to strengthen trans-Atlantic ties, saying the security and environmental challenges confronting the world cannot be met without coordinated action.
The joint press conference was the latest stop on Obama's weeklong tour of the Middle East and Europe.
The two men were warm in their praise for one another. Obama lauded Sarkozy's political instincts, noting that on a 2006 trip to the US, Sarkozy met with only two US senators: Obama and Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
"I would suggest that for the reporters in the room, if you want to know something about elections you should talk to the president of France," said Obama, who towered over Sarkozy. "He seems to have a good nose for how things play out."
Meanwhile, Sarkozy referred to "my dear Barack Obama," and said, "Barack Obama's adventure is an adventure that rings true in the hearts and mind of the French and of Europeans."
On the main topics of discussion, Sarkozy said the two were largely in accord.
"Barack Obama and I talked about many things -- Iran, peace in the Middle East -- and I want to say that there's a tremendous convergence of views," he said. "This was a fascinating discussion we had."
Obama and Sarkozy deftly parried attempts to draw them into uncomfortable political territory, and kept their lengthy remarks focused on French- and European-American relations and on common security and climate goals.
The Illinois senator said the two had spoken about "common security challenges" facing the two nations: Israeli-Palestinian relations, the improving security atmosphere in Iraq, the rise in violence in Afghanistan, and the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, which "we agreed is an extraordinarily grave situation."
He thanked Sarkozy for the French commitment of troops to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, and said the countries must remain "full partners" in engaging Iran. Obama also warned the six nations that engaged in talks with Iran last weekend in Geneva "don't wait for the next president because the pressure, I think, is only going to build".
Obama said the two talked about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan, and the need for the US and Europe to prevent the "growing spread of instability and despair that affects not only the Sudan but also the broader region".
Obama decried what he described as "caricatures" on both sides of the Atlantic, with Europeans viewing the US as militaristic and unilateral in their foreign policy, and Americans viewing Europeans as unwilling "to get their hands dirty" in world affairs.
He said Sarkozy had "shattered many of those stereotypes and has reminded Americans of the long tradition of friendship" between the two countries that dates back to French support for American revolutionaries in the 18th century.
Obama declined a reporter's invitation to find fault with President Bush's relationship with the French, who cooled to him following the invasion of Iraq. The senator referred to a tradition of US politicians refraining from criticising a sitting president while abroad, so as to maintain a unitary foreign policy.
"We have one president at a time," Obama said.
When Sarkozy was asked whether his friendly words for Obama constituted an endorsement, Obama warned him to tread carefully on the matter. Sarkozy responded: "It's the Americans who will chose their president, not me."
As if to dispel US concerns he is relatively unschooled in foreign affairs compared to McCain, a Vietnam war veteran and ranking member of the Senate armed services committee, Obama spoke at length about his observations on the trip, and his hopes for future US-European ties.
Obama said he was "very appreciative" of Sarkozy's "long-standing commitment" to bolstering US-French relations.
"He has been a great leader on this and the American people greatly appreciate President Sarkozy's approach to the relationship between our two countries," Obama said.
In a twist on his own reception in Europe, Obama noted Sarko's reputation in the United States as an usually pro-American French leader.
"He was treated like a rock star, everybody loved him," Obama said about Sarkozy's recent visit to the US. "It was after that that everyone decided to call French fries French fries again," he said, referring to an outbreak of anti-French sentiment among conservative US politicians surrounding the 2003 Iraq invasion, during which frites were temporarily renamed "freedom fries" in certain quarters.
