Paris, May 30: Before heading to a summit in the French Alps, US President George W. Bush has said that it was time for France and the United States to move beyond their disagreements over Iraq and work together to fight problems like AIDS. In an interview with France 3 television ahead of the Group of Eight Summit in Evian, Bush said he was not planning sanctions against France for opposing the war in Iraq. Asked if he was furious with French President Jacques Chirac, Bush said, "I'm not furious, just disappointed."
"And the Americans are disappointed," Bush said. "But now it is time to move forward." Bush's remarks were translated into French, and his exact responses in English were not immediately available.

The US president heads to Poland and Russia before going to Evian on Sunday for the summit. Afterward, he will visit Egypt, Jordan and Qatar.

The Group of Eight Summit gathers together the heads of the world's top seven industrial powers - the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Canada and Italy - and Russia. Another dozen or so leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe will also be attending.

Bush said that the global fight against AIDS could bring France and the United States closer, and he recalled that Congress accepted a US$15 billion bill to fight AIDS globally.

"It will be a good opportunity for the United States and France to work together to resolve serious problems," Bush said.

Bureau Report