Bush and Chirac kiss and make-up
US President George Bush and French President Jacques Chirac ended their personal feud over the Iraq war today, saying they both support efforts for the reconstruction of the country.
“I know there are a lot of people in both our countries wondering whether or not we can actually sit down and have a comfortable conversation. And the answer is absolutely,” Bush said, with Chirac standing next to him.
“We can have disagreements but that doesn’t mean we have to be disagreeable to each other,” he said at the G-8 summit in Evian.
Chirac, who was having the translation whispered into his ear, smiled and nodded.
The two leaders staged a reconciliation on a terrace outside a hotel where world leaders were holding their annual summit. The French president escorted Bush to a table and put his hand on Bush’s shoulder They ended the session with a hand on each other’s back.
“We’d like a cup of coffee, please,’ Bush joked as they posed for photographers ahead of a private, one-one-one meeting.
Bush thanked Chirac for his warm hospitality and said they had a “really good meeting.”
