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CNN Sunday Morning
Bush to Meet Chirac
Aired May 26, 2002 - 09:01 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The latest stop on President Bush's European tour is Paris, where in just a few minutes he will meet with the French president. Joining us now from the French capitol CNN's Jim Bittermann, hi, Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. As you've mentioned, we're expecting George Bush to be arriving at the French presidential palace, the d'Elysees Palace in just a few minutes' time. Jacques Chirac, the French President there to greet them.
The president's got about 24 hours here in Paris. They're going to have a couple of hours to meet this afternoon, followed by a joint news conference, and then a working dinner this evening, and then the two men are going to go up to Normandy, the D-Day beaches up in Normandy tomorrow.
In their time here, they're going to be talking about a lot of global issues, the war on terrorism for instance, the simmering dispute between India and Pakistan and other global issues; but as well some simmering and very sensitive issues that divide both Europe and France and the United States, issues like the new tariffs on steel and agricultural trade restrictions, those sorts of things.
Chirac's people have been putting out the word, however, that the personal relationship between Jacques Chirac and George Bush is good enough, that you could talk about these kind of sensitive concerns.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BITTERMANN (voice over): A few months ago, when Americans in France wanted to honor New York firemen by planting a tree, a French Senator offered them a spot. President Jacques Chirac's wife lent support, and a French film star took part.
In the post 9/11 world, the U.S. in many ways could not want more loyal allies than the French. President Chirac was one of the first world leaders to back the war on terrorism, and was the first to visit the U.S. after the attacks.
French terrorism investigators provided clues that have helped in the hunt for al Qaeda, and the French military has 2,000 troops in Afghanistan. But France is not about to become the 51st state, given the reaction of some to U.S. policies since 9/11. ALEXANDRE ADLER, POLITICAL ANALYST: Resentment, anger and anguish among Europeans that they are no more center stage. They were no more center stage on the wider (inaudible) that we knew, but we are not center stage on the State Department or the White House agenda.
BITTERMANN: With economic links to Iraq, for example, France is urging a more thoughtful approach than simply eliminating Saddam Hussein. Washington does not seem to be listening.
On new steel tariffs and agricultural trade restrictions, the French have been seriously critical of the Bush Administration. On the environment and the world criminal court, many were appalled at the way the U.S. backed out of international agreements.
FRANCOIS HEISBOURG, FOUNDATION FOR STRATEGIC RESEARCH: These are issues which are very close either to the heart or to the billfold. They do generate this negative view of the Bush Administration and limit the ability of European governments to display solidarity with the U.S.
BITTERMANN: The author of a new book on Franco-American relations says, the U.S. and the Bush Administration is behaving like a 19th Century nation state, and he blames domestic politics.
GUILLAUME PARMENTIER, AUTHOR: The idea of winning the next presidential election reigns supreme and that makes, of course, the calculation of future American policies much more difficult for the Europeans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BITTERMANN (on camera): Kyra, I should also say that security is really tight. I don't know if you can hear the sound of the helicopter overhead, but security is really tight here. There are about 3,500 French police on the streets.
There was a small demonstration here this morning against the death penalty, but a much larger one is getting underway just about now. Thirty different groups have asked to take part in that protest, which is likely to be anti-globalization in nature.
In any case, the police say that in principal anyway; the demonstration should not get to any closer than about a mile and a half to where the two presidents are meeting. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Jim Bittermann, live from Paris. Thank you.
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