Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


5

Obama, Sarko Oppose Nuclear Iran, New Israeli Settlements

Share

(AP) – Barack Obama and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, stood together today on thwarting Iran's nuclear ambitions and furthering a Mideast peace that provides for separate Israeli and Palestinian states. "We want peace. We want dialogue. We want to help them develop. But we do not want military nuclear weapons to spread," said Sarkozy of Iran, adding that he worries about "insane statements" from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Obama, in turn, reaffirmed the need for "tough diplomacy," and said he wanted to get Russia more involved on the issue. Sarkozy also agreed with Obama's call for Israel to stop building settlements in the West Bank, and said his country would take some detainees currently held at the Guantanamo Bay. The leaders met in Normandy, where they will commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Their wives—dueling style icons—were to meet separately.

President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.
President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.
President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.
President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are reflected in a mirror as they participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.
President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are reflected in a mirror as they participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Michelle Obama waves as she leaves the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Friday, June 5, 2009.
Michelle Obama waves as she leaves the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Friday, June 5, 2009.   (THIBAULT CAMUS)
Nicolas Sarkozy and US President Barack Obama wave during an arrival ceremony at the Prefecture of Caen, northwestern France, June 6, 2009.
Nicolas Sarkozy and US President Barack Obama wave during an arrival ceremony at the Prefecture of Caen, northwestern France, June 6, 2009.   (THIERRY CHESNOT)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
5 comments
VIEWING:
 
kirei_gaisuto
Jun 6, 09 8:12 AM CDT
What a surprise, Chairman Barry is making friends with France and his people THE MUSLIMS!!!!!!!! (This is sarcasm.) Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
shonangreg
Jun 6, 09 10:18 AM CDT
Thanks for telling us you were joking, KG. Some of the frequent posters here say very similar things, but they will not admit they're being clowns . . . Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Newser001
Jun 6, 09 11:19 AM CDT
Here's insight on present day détente... Obama wasn't pleased when the Queen of England wasn't invited to the 'D-Day' commemoration. He pushed for her inclusion, even up to the final days leading up to the event. France spun their posturing, relented, and then invited her at the last moment before the event. But by then, the damage was done and the Queen wouldn't have any of it. Obama, in kind, sensitive to the Queen, turned down an invitation for dinner with Sarkozy, nor a sit down with him, the other evening while he and Michelle were staying at the US Ambassador's residence, just down the road from Sarkozy's residence. The French are now furious at this dis, from Obama. It's all rather perplexing why the Queen was excluded in the first place, but at the same time, I'm rather proud of Obama for taking a stance, with regard to Her Majesty, The Queen, and France's perplexing posturing. Voilà pour la diplomatie internationale?!! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
lindamae
Jun 7, 09 3:20 AM CDT
Obama was invited 2 months ago. You really think he didn't know then that the Queen wasn't invited? He did not bow to her - which was not a problem since heads of state are equals and only shake hands. He did, HOWEVER, bow to the King of Saudi Arabia - as you can see on You Tube - even though Gibbs fibed about it. Gibbs fibs quite a lot. And then he just lies. It is one of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals. It is ok to lie if the lie is what you want the future truth to be. Brainwashing.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
justme
Jun 6, 09 11:20 AM CDT
I'm not being a clown when I say that I'm not overwhelmed with Obama's progress so far. Hope the French take more than a token few from Gitmo. It will be the first European assistance we get. Easy to tell the US what we are doing wrong and for Obama to apologize for it. Tougher to actually get involved in the actual solution to the problems of Gitmo, terrorism (sorry, Extremism) etc. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

41 Stories

Obama Had Hand in Secret Talks With Iran

Worked out deal with France, Russia to process uranium

Oct 20, 09 10:22 AM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama personally stepped in multiple times during the secret multinational talks with Iran that led up to the negotiations that began yesterday in Vienna, White House sources tell Time. When Iran put the word out that it needed enriched uranium plates for its aging research reactor, the Obama... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iran • nuclear proliferation • Russia • Barack Obama • France • nuclear program

(Newser) - Yesterday's surprise announcement at the G20 summit of the existence of a hidden Iranian nuclear enrichment facility wasn't the way President Obama planned to handle the information, Politico reports. His hand was forced by a reporter who learned of a letter in which Iran notified the UN's nuclear watchdog agency... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iran • Barack Obama • Nicolas Sarkozy • Gordon Brown • nuclear facilities

 Obama-Led 
 Security Council 
 OKs Nuke Resolution 

US-drafted measure strengthened by Obama appearance at meeting

Sep 24, 09 11:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - The UN Security Council today adopted a US-drafted resolution that outlines much of President Obama’s plan to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The president’s attendance at the meeting of heads of state—just the fifth in UN history—underscores the centrality of the issue for his administration.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
China • Iran • nuclear proliferation • Russia • North Korea • United Nations • nuclear weapons • UN Security Council • UN resolution • Obama administration • President Obama • head of state

41 Stories

Copyright 2009 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.



Politics 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
Iran • nuclear proliferation • Russia • Barack Obama • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • Guantanamo Bay • D-Day • Normandy

from our news partners