Bush tries to move beyond past differences with France

PARIS -- President Bush and President Jacques Chirac sought to move beyond bitter differences over Iraq on Saturday but the French leader again doubted America's justification for the war and said the situation remains "extremely precarious."

The U.S.-French divisions stood in contrast with the show of solidarity earlier in the day in Rome between Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

On the eve of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day, the two leaders highlighted areas of agreement, from Afghanistan to the Middle East, from Haiti to Africa. "Free nations working together can overcome danger," Bush said, citing the lessons of World War II.

Calling his talks with Bush "trusting" and "sincere," Chirac endorsed many of Bush's comments, but was critical about U.S. policy in Iraq. "There is a degree of chaos prevailing," he said.

"We have certainly not put the difficulties behind us; do not believe that," Chirac said. "We are in a situation which is extremely precarious."

Chirac said he was uncertain the ousted Iraqi president had weapons of mass destruction before the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. That was a chief justification Bush gave for the war; no stockpiles of such weapons have been found since.

"I have always said that I have no information that would lead me to believe that there were or were not for that matter weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," Chirac said.

"That's a fact. All the information available to us at that time and on that subject did not allow us to take a stand or reach any conclusion which is why I said to President Bush that I personally was incapable of saying whether or not there were weapons of mass destruction," Chirac said.

Concerns over sovereigntyEarlier in the day in Rome, Bush said he assured Berlusconi that Italy's concerns for full Iraqi sovereignty would be reflected in the pending United Nations Security Council resolution.

"I assured him that not only that was our intention, that would be -- his desires would be reflected in the United Nations Security Council resolution," Bush said.

Chirac withheld endorsing a new U.S. agreement with Iraq's interim government on the control of coalition troops after the June 30 handover of political power. The French leader said the agreement needs finishing touches, which he said could be accomplished soon.

Bush and Chirac also pledged to cooperate on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Bush made the case for democratic reforms throughout the Middle East; that is his priority at a conference this coming week on Sea Island, Ga., of the eight major industrialized nations.

Bush and Chirac both spoke of the American sacrifices to liberate France from Nazi tyranny 60 years ago.

At ceremonies today in Normandy, Chirac said he will tell Americans, "'France says thank you, and that France does not forget."' Bush he expected it to be a "spectacular day."

Chirac said he understood why Bush has been comparing the Iraq war to the liberation of Europe in World War II, given this weekend's celebrations. But Chirac said "it is very difficult to compare historical situations that differ because history is not repetitive."

Still, the French leader tried to minimize differences with Bush on Iraq, saying they are committed to a peaceful Iraq.

"Well you all know that our countries have had somewhat different approaches and solutions and a vision of the situation which was not similar," Chirac said.

"That being said, we share one and the same conviction today, namely that there is no alternative to restoring peace and therefore to restoring security and development in Iraq and that no effort must be spared in achieving this," Chirac said.