France: US first lady Laura Bush, on a mission to mend US ties with the world, received a polite kiss on the hand from Jacques Chirac yesterday, before a ceremony readmitting Washington to a UN body it long shunned as hostile.
The French president, unpopular in the United States for his opposition to the Iraq war, kissed her hand as she arrived at his Elysee Palace on a courtesy call.
She was in Paris to attend a rejoining ceremony at UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation from which Ronald Reagan's US withdrew in 1984, citing bad management and anti-Western bias.
Mrs Bush's visit comes after Mr Chirac kept up his criticism of President Bush's Iraq policy in a speech to the UN in New York last week.
The two leaders failed to bridge differences in a meeting on the sidelines of the UN session.
Mrs Bush's visit to France and UNESCO aimed to smooth international relations at a time when the US is keen for foreign troops and money to help control and rebuild Iraq.
Mr Bush announced plans to rejoin UNESCO last year as he unsuccessfully sought UN backing for his policy on Iraq.
UNESCO welcomed the return, which is expected to boost its budget. - (Reuters)