Obama: No snub, just here to take care of business

(Paris) President Obama tried to clear the air with the French about an alleged snub to President Sarkozy. In the days leading to Mr. Obama's stop in France, there were rumors abound that the Obama's had declined a dinner invite from the French first couple and the suggestion that it was a reflection of US French relations.

President Obama: "What it means is that I have a very tough schedule I would love nothing more than to have a leisurely week in Paris, stroll down the Seine, take my wife out to a nice meal , have a picnic ... those days are over, for the moment. And so I think its important to understand that good friends don't worry about the sypbols and the conventions and the protocols. The United States is a critical friend and ally of France and vice versa. I personally consider Nicholas Sarkozy a friend. I think he feels the same way. And so since I know I can always pick up the phone and talk to him, that it's not necessary for me to spend huge amounts of time other than just getting business done when I'm here. "

"At some point I'll be the ex president and then you'll find me in France I'm sure quite a bit having fun. I said the same thing in Germany yesterday. Where they were asking me, well you didn't have an overnight here. I think you guys are reading too much into my schedule.
My main issue has to do with the fact that when I take foreign trips, its to get buseiness done because I also have the economy where the unemployment rate is 9.4% We still have to pass financial regulations that will prevent the type of crisis we've seen from happening again . That all requires lot of work and so my travel schedule is always limited. "

For his part, Mr. Sarkozy seemed to agree.

Sarkozy: "Do you think our primary concern will be what glossy magazine will be pictured in or what restaurant spend an evening in or whether we spend an extra evening here or what... I understand you should put the question, but frankly do you think people are just waiting to see us hand in hand staring into one another's eyes? Of course not. "