_9.jpg)
By RFI
Singer Mary J Blige sang Jacques Brel's Ne me quitte pas (If you go away) in
French to François Hollande at a special dinner with Barack Obama at
the White House on Tuesday, the second day of his official visit to the
US. A reference to 200 years of alliance between France and the US ...
or to the French president's troubled private life? The pundits seem divided.
After discussing issues including from Iran's nuclear programme,
climate change, trade and combatting armed Islamists, the two leaders
sat down with 300 guests to a state dinner that started with caviar,
went on to quail eggs and winter vegetables, followed by steak,
shallots and Swiss chard, a dessert of ice cream and chocolate and
little extras including tricoleur biscuits and candy floss, all washed down with wines from Virginia and California.
|
"We stand together with the United States to fight terrorism," he said. "We stand together to adress the threats of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and chemical weapons. together to solve the crises in the Middle East. Together to support development in Africa. And together, always, to fight global warming and climate change."
He went on to tell "dear Barack", "You stand for what France has always admired in the United States; where everything is possible for those willing to fight for their rights, their values, their freedom and equal rights".
White House officials were obliged to ask excited French journalists to calm down, as they snapped selfies and relished the opportunity of visiting the most famous head of state's residence in the world, according to French television channel BFMTV.
Resource:http://www.english.rfi.fr/americas/20140212-baby-please-dont-go-obama-hollande-white-house-love
