Bush, Sarkozy warn Iran on nuclear program

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Bush remains upbeat
In a statement issued by the French presidential palace, the United States and France sought to dispel signs that they have divergent thoughts on Syria. Sarkozy also sought to play down a growing controversy about an invitation extended to Assad — among other Arab leaders — to France's Bastille Day military parade next month, and plans to include Syria in a new Union for the Mediterranean that Sarkozy has championed.

"If, when we go around the Mediterranean, we start by only inviting the countries that meet our exact criteria, that runs the risk of holding a meeting where very few people attend," Sarkozy said.

He said that discussions of normalized relations with France would require Syria to guarantee Lebanon's independence and "peel off, as much as possible, from Iran in its desire to lay its hands on a nuclear weapon."

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Bush also was confronted with questions about Iraq, and his administration's desire to negotiate with Baghdad a long-term deal to provide the legal authority and rules covering an ongoing U.S. military and diplomatic presence there.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared Friday that initial talks with the U.S. were deadlocked, in part over American demands such as immunity for U.S. troops and the ability to detain terror suspects. Al-Maliki said talks would continue.

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Bush was upbeat.

"If I were a betting man, we'll reach an agreement with the Iraqis," he said.

Bush said the U.S. side would "work hard" on answering Baghdad's concerns. But he did not promise that Washington would give up its most controversial proposals. A U.N. mandate for the U.S. military mission expires at the end of the year.