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American Morning
First Lady's Trip to Paris
Aired September 29, 2003 - 07:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's stay overseas right now. The first lady, Laura Bush, is in France today, the first stop on a five- day tour of Paris and then Moscow. She began this morning, earlier today, making a social call on the French president, Jacques Chirac.
My partner, Soledad O'Brien, is traveling in Paris with the first lady.
Good afternoon again, Soledad, there.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you where you are, Bill.
The first lady, a busy day for her really, because she's only spending one full day here in Paris, and she got off to an early start. She met with the French president, Jacques Chirac, this morning. His testy relationship with her husband, the American president, Mr. Bush, is obviously very well-known and documented.
President Chirac met the first lady on the steps of the presidential palace and ushered her up, after kissing her on the hand. They met briefly, only for about 15 minutes or so, and it was called a "courtesy call." But Mrs. Bush has said very clearly that she intends to act as an ambassador, not only for the nation but also for her husband on this trip. And many people have said, including the French -- the American ambassador to France this morning said that Mrs. Bush is the most important emissary for her husband.
Mrs. Bush's schedule today is very busy. She's going to deliver the keynote address at UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -- the U.S. rejoining UNESCO after a 19-year absence. Then, she's going to take part in a flag- raising ceremony that will happen on the Piazza.
And then, she gets on a plane and heads out Tuesday morning for Moscow, where she'll be taking part in a book festival with the first lady of Russia.
Back to you -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad, many thanks, and we'll talk to you throughout the morning here, our first stop in Paris. I know you'll be with her throughout the week, when she heads off to Moscow, and we will not be far from you. Soledad O'Brien live in Paris today with the first lady. S
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired September 29, 2003 - 07:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's stay overseas right now. The first lady, Laura Bush, is in France today, the first stop on a five- day tour of Paris and then Moscow. She began this morning, earlier today, making a social call on the French president, Jacques Chirac.
My partner, Soledad O'Brien, is traveling in Paris with the first lady.
Good afternoon again, Soledad, there.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you where you are, Bill.
The first lady, a busy day for her really, because she's only spending one full day here in Paris, and she got off to an early start. She met with the French president, Jacques Chirac, this morning. His testy relationship with her husband, the American president, Mr. Bush, is obviously very well-known and documented.
President Chirac met the first lady on the steps of the presidential palace and ushered her up, after kissing her on the hand. They met briefly, only for about 15 minutes or so, and it was called a "courtesy call." But Mrs. Bush has said very clearly that she intends to act as an ambassador, not only for the nation but also for her husband on this trip. And many people have said, including the French -- the American ambassador to France this morning said that Mrs. Bush is the most important emissary for her husband.
Mrs. Bush's schedule today is very busy. She's going to deliver the keynote address at UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -- the U.S. rejoining UNESCO after a 19-year absence. Then, she's going to take part in a flag- raising ceremony that will happen on the Piazza.
And then, she gets on a plane and heads out Tuesday morning for Moscow, where she'll be taking part in a book festival with the first lady of Russia.
Back to you -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad, many thanks, and we'll talk to you throughout the morning here, our first stop in Paris. I know you'll be with her throughout the week, when she heads off to Moscow, and we will not be far from you. Soledad O'Brien live in Paris today with the first lady. S
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
