The close relationship between the United States and France was emphasized during US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Paris, her first since Nicolas Sarkozy became president. Sarkozy is known for being a friend of the US, and Washington hopes that Rice's extended stay in Paris will improve the strained ties between the two countries caused by former French president Jacques Chirac's opposition to the Iraq war in 2003. Rice's visit coincided with a meeting convened by Sarkozy on Darfur, where the US felt that the previous French government had not done enough to stop what the US called genocide. During her visit, Rice engaged in 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 belief that working together will strengthen the relationship between the two countries. "We had the opportunity to see how closely we align on many current events topics. Sometimes, we had differing opinions, but it's important to speak honestly among friends," he noted. Rice also extended her congratulations to Sarkozy on his election win and commended Kouchner for his work with Medecins Sans Frontieres, which she called one of the best organizations ever established." Analysts pointed out that while there may be a friendly atmosphere between the two countries, there are still significant disagreements on several issues 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 advisor at the French Institute of International Relations, noted that there is a new sense of confidence in the relationship, but more in terms of tone and style rather than actual content. He also mentioned that while there is a perception in the U.S. of a new France as a strong ally, the view of the Bush administration in France remains unchanged. In order to confirm a 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 warm interactions in public. Kouchner kissed Rice on both cheeks at the end of their news conference, symbolizing reconciliation between France and the United States after the Iraq war, which began years ago. Rice acknowledged French support for the American revolution, emphasizing the importance of French assistance in the creation of the United States of America.