Prime Minister Tony Blair today continued his efforts to draw a line under his differences with French President Jacques Chirac over the Iraq war.
Speaking at a London press conference following talks with the French leader, Mr Blair told journalists: "One the question of Iraq, I think the differences at the time of the conflict were well known.
"But both of us are now working under UN resolution 1546, both of us want to see a stable and democratic Iraq. And both of us will do what we can to ensure that that happens.
"It is just worth pointing out . . . that on the questions of . . . Afghanistan, on the Balkans, on the question of Africa, on the question of climate change we are working very closely together. On the question of European defence, both on the defence level and the industrial level, we are working closely together.
"And it is worth just pointing out that our armed forces have been engaged in co-operation together in many different parts of the world," Mr Blair said.
President Chirac, who just ahead of his visit said he feared that the Iraqi invasion had made the world a more dangerous place, started his comments by sympathising with Mr Blair over the fate of murdered aid worker Ms Margaret Hassan.
President Chirac said: "I would like to think of Margaret Hassan and I should like to express the depth of horror that what she experienced inspires in us. And of course say our fullest sympathy and solidarity to our British friends in this horrific business."
Mr Chirac backed the key aims of Britain's presidency of the G8. He said "the fate of the world" could be undermined by a failure to push forward on African development.
The world could also be jeopardised by failure to act over climate change.
Mr Chirac said they were the issues that really mattered and Iraq was the "one and only issue" over which France and Britain disagreed. "Who is right or wrong, history will tell," he said.
He said both countries shared the aim of establishing a democratic and peaceful Iraq.
He said he was "taken aback" at comments in the French press suggesting divisions between Britain and France. "They do not reflect either my own beliefs and certainly not the British Government's or our experience of Franco-British co-operation."
PA