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Last goodbye for Blair and Chirac Last goodbye for Blair and Chirac
(about 3 hours later)
Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair has visited Paris to say farewell to outgoing French president and political adversary, Jacques Chirac.Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair has visited Paris to say farewell to outgoing French president and political adversary, Jacques Chirac.
Mr Blair and Mr Chirac have disagreed regularly on EU matters over the years but greeted each other warmly on the Elysee Palace steps.Mr Blair and Mr Chirac have disagreed regularly on EU matters over the years but greeted each other warmly on the Elysee Palace steps.
Their biggest falling out came when Mr Blair allied with Washington over Iraq.Their biggest falling out came when Mr Blair allied with Washington over Iraq.
Mr Blair also held talks with French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy, who takes power on 16 May.Mr Blair also held talks with French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy, who takes power on 16 May.
The meeting was Mr Sarkozy's first with a foreign leader and was expected to be followed by a private dinner. The meeting was Mr Sarkozy's first with a foreign leader and was followed by a private dinner.
'Very impressed'
During the talks they were joined by Francois Fillon, expected to be named next week as Mr Sarkozy's prime minister, and British ambassador to France, Peter Westmacott.During the talks they were joined by Francois Fillon, expected to be named next week as Mr Sarkozy's prime minister, and British ambassador to France, Peter Westmacott.
Previously, Mr Sarkozy expressed his personal admiration for Tony Blair and his political style, as well as for his government's economic record. Speaking after the meeting Mr Sarkozy said he had been "very impressed" by Mr Blair's decade in office.
He said it was not the length of his time in office which was impressive but what he had achieved.
On one of his last visits to Britain, Mr Sarkozy visited a job centre to see how the UK dealt with unemployment.On one of his last visits to Britain, Mr Sarkozy visited a job centre to see how the UK dealt with unemployment.
I am tempted to say that Sarkozy is currently the most successful Blairite around BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Europe diary: Blair's friendsI am tempted to say that Sarkozy is currently the most successful Blairite around BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Europe diary: Blair's friends
He has made the fight against joblessness his top priority for France.He has made the fight against joblessness his top priority for France.
The main subject of Mr Blair and Mr Sarkozy's talks was expected to be Europe and the future of the EU Constitutional Treaty - which France scuppered by voting against, in its referendum two years ago. The main subject of Mr Blair and Mr Sarkozy's talks was Europe and the future of the EU Constitutional Treaty - which France scuppered by voting against, in its referendum two years ago.
Mr Sarkozy wants, instead, a pragmatic form of mini-treaty, pared down to its bare essentials, to be voted through national parliaments rather than risk another referendum.Mr Sarkozy wants, instead, a pragmatic form of mini-treaty, pared down to its bare essentials, to be voted through national parliaments rather than risk another referendum.
However, Britain and France still disagree on some areas, not least over Turkish membership of the EU, which Britain favours and Mr Sarkozy remains firmly against.However, Britain and France still disagree on some areas, not least over Turkish membership of the EU, which Britain favours and Mr Sarkozy remains firmly against.
A government official said there had been "common ground" between the two men during the talks.
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is working on a roadmap towards a new treaty to be discussed at the European Council meeting in late June.The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is working on a roadmap towards a new treaty to be discussed at the European Council meeting in late June.
She is not expected to meet the new French president for talks until after 16 May.She is not expected to meet the new French president for talks until after 16 May.