MOUNT VERNON, VA. — President Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy stood shoulder to shoulder against a nuclear-armed Iran on Wednesday, demonstrating the cozier relationship between the countries under France’s new conservative leader.
Bush said agreement on Iran was a hallmark of their talks at the home of George Washington. He said they expressed “the desire to work jointly to convince the Iranian regime to give up their nuclear weapons ambitions for the sake of peace.”
“It is unacceptable for Iran at any point to have a nuclear weapon,” said Sarkozy. He said, “I believe even in the need to toughen” United Nations sanctions leveled against Tehran for continuing to enrich uranium.
Although some suspect Bush of leading a march toward war to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, the U.S. president said that the diplomatic course is his preferred choice.
“Now is the time for us to work together to diplomatically solve this problem,” Bush said.
The second day of the Bush- Sarkozy meetings was unique. Hosting meetings at a site with such significance to the American story became additional evidence that the U.S.-French relationship is reaching new heights with Sarkozy’s ascension to office in Paris.
“It’s safe to say that you’ve impressed a lot of people here on your journey,” Bush said to his guest as they toured Mount Vernon. “I have a partner in peace, somebody who has clear vision, basic values who is willing to take tough positions to achieve peace.”
Sarkozy made only a passing reference to a big difference for him, on climate change. The French leader wants to make his country a vanguard of the movement against global warming, while Bush advocates mostly voluntary and technology-based solutions.
