The United States and France, who had strained relations due to the Iraq war, emphasized their close ties as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Paris for the first time since Nicolas Sarkozy became president. Sarkozy, a strong ally of the US, and Washington are hopeful that Rice's extended stay in Paris will signal a fresh start in US-French relations that were damaged by former French president Jacques Chirac's opposition to the Iraq war in 2003. Rice's visit coincided with a meeting in Darfur convened by Sarkozy, where the US believed the previous French government did not do enough to address what the US has labeled as genocide in the region. During her visit, Rice held extensive discussions with Sarkozy, as well as the French foreign and defense ministers, on various global issues such as Iran, Iraq, the Middle East, and Kosovo. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner stated at a joint news conference on Sunday that working together will lead to stronger relations between the two countries. "We had the opportunity to see how closely aligned we are on many current events, although there were times when we had differing perspectives. It is beneficial to speak candidly among friends," he stated. Rice also expressed her congratulations to Sarkozy on his election win and commended Kouchner for his work with Medecins Sans Frontieres, which she hailed as one of the best organizations ever established." Analysts pointed out that despite the friendly relations, there are still many areas where France and the United States do not see eye to eye. These include French concerns about NATO expansion, US plans for a missile defense shield in Europe, and US support for Israel. Dominique Moisi, a senior counselor, noted that while there is a new atmosphere of confidence in the relationship, it is more about style than substance. He mentioned that there is a perception in the US of a new France as a strong ally, but in France, views on the Bush administration remain unchanged. "To confirm the change in atmosphere, it is suggested to wait for a new president in Washington, preferably from the Democratic party. Despite this, US and French officials displayed warmth in their public interactions. Kouchner kissed Rice on both cheeks at the conclusion of their news conference, symbolizing reconciliation between France and the United States following the Iraq war, a process that began years ago. The French foreign minister was pleased when Rice acknowledged French support for the American revolution, emphasizing the importance of French assistance in the creation of the United States of America."