Sarkozy shortens Canadian visit for Bush

MONTREAL, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy is shortening his trip to Canada this week in order to meet with U.S. President George Bush on Saturday, his staff said.

Sarkozy, who holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, was to meet with newly re-elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Montreal, but that was shifted to Thursday in Quebec City, the Canwest News Service reported.

Harper is hosting the Francophonie summit, a gathering of 53 countries where French is the common language, which begins Friday.

Originally, Harper and Sarkozy were to meet regarding a free-trade agreement between the European Union and Canada but the abbreviated schedule means the men will instead focus on the global economic crisis, the report said. Sarkozy is also scheduled to address Quebec's provincial legislature.

The French president adjusted his schedule in order to meet with Bush Saturday at Camp David, Md., the report said.