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Brown and Sarkozy in pre-G8 talks Brown and Sarkozy in pre-G8 talks
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy have been discussing how to help the economy recover in talks in France ahead of this week's G8 summit. Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy have been discussing economic recovery and tension with Iran in talks in France ahead of this week's G8 summit.
The two leaders said relations between their countries were strong, following talks in the alpine resort of Evian.The two leaders said relations between their countries were strong, following talks in the alpine resort of Evian.
President Sarkozy also said they stood "shoulder to shoulder" over attacks on the British government by Iran. President Sarkozy said France stood "shoulder to shoulder" over attacks on Britain by the Iranian authorities.
It is understood the UK will give £15m to France for border protection in return for help deporting immigrants.It is understood the UK will give £15m to France for border protection in return for help deporting immigrants.
The prime minister is expected to warn leaders at the G8 summit in Italy against complacency when the economy is at a "pivotal point". The prime minister is expected to warn leaders at the G8 summit in Italy against complacency when the economy is at a "pivotal point" and will raise concerns about oil prices going up, protectionism and bank lending.
'Solidarity'
It is understood he wants to raise concerns about oil prices going up, unemployment, protectionism and getting the banks lending again.
In a press conference Mr Sarkozy said there was a "total convergence" of views between Britain and France while Mr Brown said the countries' relations had "never been better".
Truly a force of nature Gordon Brown on Nicolas Sarkozy Analysis: Rejuvenating summit?Truly a force of nature Gordon Brown on Nicolas Sarkozy Analysis: Rejuvenating summit?
Mr Sarkozy said the two countries stood "shoulder to shoulder" on the situation in Iran - and the "attacks" on the British government. The prime minister replied that he was grateful for French "solidarity" on the issue and any response would be made in conjunction with EU partners. President Sarkozy said action was needed to find a way to reduce the volatility of oil prices - saying that big price changes were putting the pace of economic recovery at risk.
On Sunday it was confirmed that the eighth of nine British Embassy employees detained by Iranian authorities had been released. The two leaders lavished praise on each other in a joint press conference - Mr Sarkozy remarking that the April G20 summit in London had been chaired "remarkably" by Gordon Brown. Mr Brown in response paid tribute to Mr Sarkozy's leadership, saying he was "truly a force of nature".
The ninth, an Iranian political analyst, has been charged with acting against national security. The French president said there was a "total convergence" of views between Britain and France while Mr Brown said the countries' relations had "never been better".
The French president also said they wanted the G20 summit in Pittsburgh in September to be "far sighted" and pledged to "get things moving together". Mr Sarkozy said the two countries were united in expecting the G20 summit in Pittsburgh in September to be "far sighted" and get "hard and fast results when it comes to regulation".
Mr Brown paid tribute to Mr Sarkozy's leadership of the EU saying he was "truly a force of nature". Iran row
He also said they would work together to ensure progress on development, climate change and global warming at the G8 this week and would not settle for "way off" targets.
"We believe 2009 is a turning point in terms of regulation, new world governance and the battle against climate change and we will get things moving together," he said.
We were particularly shocked by the totally unfair disproportionate attacks and criticism President Sarkozy
The French president said on Iran he wanted to be clear about where he stood saying "our British friends" could "count unreservedly on our support and solidarity, we will do whatever they want us to do".
"We were particularly shocked by the totally unfair disproportionate attacks and criticism," he said.
The prime minister replied that he was grateful for French "solidarity" on the issue and any response would be made in conjunction with EU partners.
He said they had been looking at how to get economic recovery, particularly in working together on industries "of the future" - like low carbon production, electric cars and biotechnology.He said they had been looking at how to get economic recovery, particularly in working together on industries "of the future" - like low carbon production, electric cars and biotechnology.
He said "radical reforms" agreed at the G20 still had to be completed.
And he said that they would be pushing for measures against international tax havens with new sanctions from March 2010, at this week's G8, and expressed concerns the banks were still not lending enough.
"Both of us are worried that the banks have yet to respond in full to the situation that we have where industries and sectors are calling for help for the banks," he said.
"We have a duty to our populations to do what we can to maintain jobs and create new jobs in difficult times."