Cannes: In a bid to break the tension ahead of
the G20 summit, US President Barack Obama in a lighter vein
told a notoriously looks-sensitive Nicolas Sarkozy that
France's "First Baby" was lucky to inherit her former
supermodel mother Carla Bruni's looks.
Obama, who has two daughters, congratulated Sarkozy on
the birth of Giulia Bruni-Sarkozy at a joint press conference
they held prior to the G-20 summit where world leaders will
brainstorm how to solve the worsening Eurozone crisis.
"I want to mention that this is our first meeting since
the arrival of the newest Sarkozy, and I want to congratulate
Nicolas and Carla," Obama said.
"And I informed Nicolas on the way in I was confident
Giulia inherited her mother's looks, rather than her father's,
which I think is an excellent thing," the US president said as
he tried to build rapport with his French host.
While the mediapersons and other officials present gave
out a muted laughter, Obama's diminutive French counterpart
Sarkozy had a rueful smile.
The two leaders have a history of tense relations.
Sarkozy, 56, is notoriously sensitive about his looks,
dieting constantly, and going out on power runs and cycle
rides to keep in shape like his 43-year-old wife.
"Now, we share one of the greatest challenges and
blessings in life, being fathers to our daughters," Obama
added.
Giulia Bruni-Sarkozy was born last month in a Paris clinic.
Sarkozy has three sons from his two previous
marriages, while Bruni-Sarkozy has an 11-year-old son,
Aurelien, from a previous relationship.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, November 03, 2011, 20:47