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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama world tour reaches France | Obama world tour reaches France |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has arrived in Paris for a brief visit on his world tour ahead of the November election. | US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has arrived in Paris for a brief visit on his world tour ahead of the November election. |
| He flew into the French capital a day after a public speech in Berlin, where he called for a renewed US partnership with Europe. | He flew into the French capital a day after a public speech in Berlin, where he called for a renewed US partnership with Europe. |
| He was applauded by a crowd of 200,000 in scenes reminiscent of a pop concert. | He was applauded by a crowd of 200,000 in scenes reminiscent of a pop concert. |
| Mr Obama is meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy before flying to London, the final stop of his tour. | Mr Obama is meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy before flying to London, the final stop of his tour. |
| Their meeting is taking place at the presidential Elysee Palace, and the two men will hold a joint news conference before Mr Obama leaves for the UK. | Their meeting is taking place at the presidential Elysee Palace, and the two men will hold a joint news conference before Mr Obama leaves for the UK. |
| His visit to Paris will last just a few hours, a fact noted by French reporters contrasting it to the long day he spent in Berlin, where he met German leaders before making his speech in the central Tiergarten Park, a venue for big public festivities. | His visit to Paris will last just a few hours, a fact noted by French reporters contrasting it to the long day he spent in Berlin, where he met German leaders before making his speech in the central Tiergarten Park, a venue for big public festivities. |
| Praise from Sarkozy | Praise from Sarkozy |
| As in Germany, the presidential contender enjoys high public ratings in France. | As in Germany, the presidential contender enjoys high public ratings in France. |
| Unlike my diplomatic advisers, I never believed in Hillary Clinton's chances Nicolas SarkozyFrench President Mardell blog: Obama woos Europe | |
| US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain met Mr Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace in March. | US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain met Mr Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace in March. |
| A spokesman for the Arizona senator has accused Mr Obama of turning his tour into a "premature victory lap". | A spokesman for the Arizona senator has accused Mr Obama of turning his tour into a "premature victory lap". |
| Earlier, Mr Sarkozy said he had always believed his "friend" Mr Obama would clinch the Democratic presidential nomination. | Earlier, Mr Sarkozy said he had always believed his "friend" Mr Obama would clinch the Democratic presidential nomination. |
| "Unlike my diplomatic advisers, I never believed in Hillary Clinton's chances," he told the French newspaper Le Figaro. | "Unlike my diplomatic advisers, I never believed in Hillary Clinton's chances," he told the French newspaper Le Figaro. |
| "He's my friend. I'm the only one in France who knows him." | "He's my friend. I'm the only one in France who knows him." |
| The French leader said he had "a very good memory" of their first encounter at the US Congress in 2006. | The French leader said he had "a very good memory" of their first encounter at the US Congress in 2006. |
| Global challenges | Global challenges |
| In his speech in Berlin, Mr Obama said the US and Europe had "drifted apart and forgotten [their] shared destiny". | In his speech in Berlin, Mr Obama said the US and Europe had "drifted apart and forgotten [their] shared destiny". |
| He warned that neither could afford to be isolated in the face of challenges such as terrorism and global warming. | He warned that neither could afford to be isolated in the face of challenges such as terrorism and global warming. |
| "While the 20th Century taught us that we share a common destiny, the 21st has revealed a world more intertwined than at any time in human history," Mr Obama said. | "While the 20th Century taught us that we share a common destiny, the 21st has revealed a world more intertwined than at any time in human history," Mr Obama said. |
| "In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common. | "In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common. |
| "In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe's role in our security and our future," he added. | "In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe's role in our security and our future," he added. |
| "But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together." | "But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together." |
| Mr Obama said partnership and co-operation among nations was "not a choice", but "the only way to protect our common security and advance our common humanity". | Mr Obama said partnership and co-operation among nations was "not a choice", but "the only way to protect our common security and advance our common humanity". |
| Mr Obama's tour will end in London on Saturday, when he will hold talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, opposition Conservative leader David Cameron and the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair. | Mr Obama's tour will end in London on Saturday, when he will hold talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, opposition Conservative leader David Cameron and the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair. |