WASHINGTON, April 15 (UPI) -- French President Jacques Chirac telephoned President George W. Bush for what the White House described as a 20-minute "business-like" conversation on Iraqi reconstruction and the warning to Syria not to harbor fleeing Iraqi regime leaders.
Chirac told Bush that he wanted to play a "pragmatic role" in reconstruction events in Iraq, said White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.
It is the first time the two leaders have spoken since the start of the Iraq war. Relations between the United States and France have been strained after France pledged to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing U.S.-led military force in Iraq. Some Americans have boycotted French goods as a result of the rift.
"The president knows that despite the very overt difference with France about how to deal with military issues in Iraq, that we are still allies, share common values," Fleischer said. "That is what links the people of the United States to the people of France; that more than anything else."
Bush and Chirac agreed that Syria should not harbor Iraqi leaders, many of who are thought to have slipped over the border in an effort to avoid pursuing coalition forces. Fleischer said Bush was heartened to hear what Chirac said about Syria.
They also discussed the crisis in the Middle East and the road map for peace set to be released once the Palestinians have their governing body in place. Bush told Chirac he looked forward to meeting with him at the Group of Eight Summit scheduled to be held June 1-3 in Evian-les-Bains, France.
