The United States and France, whose relationship became strained during the Iraq war, emphasized their strong ties during US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Paris, her first since Nicolas Sarkozy became president. Sarkozy, a known supporter of the US, hopes Rice's extended stay in Paris will signal a new chapter in US-French relations, which were strained by former French president Jacques Chirac's opposition to the Iraq war in 2003. Rice's visit was timed to coincide with a meeting convened by Sarkozy on Darfur, where the US felt the previous French government had not done enough to address the genocide in the region. During her visit, Rice held 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 expressed the importance of collaboration between the two countries for a stronger relationship. "We had the opportunity to see how closely we align on many current events topics, although we did not always agree. It is important to speak openly among friends," he stated. Rice also expressed her congratulations to Sarkozy on his election win and praised Kouchner for his work with Medecins Sans Frontieres, calling it one of the best organizations ever established." Analysts noted that despite the friendly relationship between the two countries, there are still several areas of disagreement, such as French concerns about NATO expansion, U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Europe, and U.S. support for Israel. Dominique Moisi, a senior counselor at the French Institute of International Relations, stated that while there is a new atmosphere of confidence, it is more about style than substance. He also mentioned that there is a perception in the United States of a new France as a strong ally, but in France, the view of the Bush administration remains 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 were seen being warm in their public interactions. Kouchner kissed Rice on both cheeks at the end of their news conference, providing a visual representation of France and the United States reconciling after the Iraq war, a process that had already begun years ago. The French foreign minister was delighted when Rice acknowledged French support for the American revolution, acknowledging that without their help, there might not have been a United States of America.