Bush, Chirac in fence-mending talks in Brussels

BRUSSELS, Feb 21 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush met French President Jacques Chirac for talks and a working dinner in Brussels on Monday, aimed at laying to rest some of the tensions triggered by the Iraq war.
Issues such as Iraq and Iran, as well as arms sales to China, the situation in Lebanon following the killing of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri and Syria were set to be on the agenda for the evening talks.
Relations between the two presidents have never been easy, but French officials insist they have remained cordial despite the angry exchanges between Paris and Washington over the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Bush has said he is not "bitter" about France's opposition to the Iraq war, and ahead of his arrival here Sunday he expressed hope that his fence-mending trip to Europe would promote joint action on key issues.

02/21/2005 18:29 GMT - AFP