Sarkozy, Obama talk world security

Meet against violent backdrop :

UK: French President Nicolas Sarkozy Monday opened White House talks with President Barack Obama against a violent backdrop, after the Arizona shooting and the murder of French hostages in Africa.

Obama hosted the visit soon after leading Americans in a national moment of silence for victims of a lone gunman’s shooting rampage which killed six people and left an Arizona congresswoman fighting for her life.

Sarkozy, meanwhile, was dealing with the fallout from the deaths in a failed rescue attempt by two French hostages snatched from a restaurant in Niger in a kidnapping blamed on Al-Qaeda.

The main focus of the talks was to be international security and France’s hopes for world monetary reform as it plans to host the G20 summit of developed and developing nations and the G8 rich nations club summit this year.

The leaders were also expected to discuss security challenges such as the NATO-led war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, security in Pakistan and threats from militants that particularly concern France in north Africa.

Sarkozy on Sunday branded as “terrorists” suspected Al-Qaeda-linked kidnappers believed to have killed the two Frenchmen.

“This odious crime will only strengthen France’s determination to fight tirelessly against terrorism... Democracies will fight face to face against these barbarians from another age who want to terrorise the whole world,” he said.

One of Sarkozy’s aides said the president attached “great importance to consulting his big partners” about his leadership this year of the G20 and G8 group of six major Western powers plus Russia and Japan.

“These discussions will allow him to refine the proposals he will make” during a press conference on January 24 dedicated to the G20 and G8 presidency, said the aide, who asked not be named.

On the Group of Eight, “the discussions will notably cover green economic growth, the Internet and partnership with Africa,” the aide said, adding that Obama, in turn, would attend the G8 summit in France in May.

A French official, meanwhile, also said that Sarkozy will also meet Saudi Arabia’s recuperating King Abdullah and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in New York.

Washington, Tuesday, AFP