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French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Visit White House Next Month

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet with U.S. President George Bush next month, as their governments continue to rebuild closer relations.

Mr. Sarkozy arrives for talks at the White House November 6, and will continue discussions with Mr. Bush the next day at Mount Vernon, home of the first U.S. president, George Washington.

The White House says topics will include the situation in Afghanistan, preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons, ending genocide in Darfur and fostering democratic change in Burma.

The two men are also slated to discuss the Middle East peace process, preventing foreign interference in Lebanon's presidential elections and forging a peaceful resolution of the status of Kosovo.

Relations between Washington and Paris have warmed since Mr. Sarkozy's election earlier this year. His predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was a fierce critic of the war in Iraq.

During the Washington trip, Mr. Bush will host a dinner for Mr. Sarkozy at the White House.

Mr. Sarkozy has previously visited Mr. Bush at his family's house in Maine. The absence of Mr. Sarkozy's wife, with whom he was vacationing nearby, was noted during the visit.

The French president's office announced Thursday that Cecilia and Nicolas Sarkozy have divorced.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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