French FM agrees France, US must 'start new chapter'

PARIS, Feb 8 (AFP) - French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told his newly appointed US counterpart, Condoleezza Rice, Tuesday that he fully agreed that Europe and the United States should "start a new phase, a new chapter".
Speaking alongside Rice, Barnier said: "I'd like to say in public how much better the world works when the United States and Europe work together."
Rice, who had just come from a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, underlined that the time had come "to turn over a new page" in Paris-Washington relations which have been frayed by differences over the US-led invasion of Iraq.

02/08/2005 19:41 GMT - AFP