France to work "hand in hand" with Obama, Sarkozy says (2nd Roundup)

Jan 20, 2009, 17:37 GMT

Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday told the new US President, Barack Obama, that France intended to work 'hand in hand' with Washington.

'I want to assure you that France is determined to work hand in hand with America, its friend and ally, so that we can resolve together the immense challenges with which our world is confronted today,' Sarkozy said in a letter to Obama.

Sarkozy added that in electing Obama 'the American people expressed with vigour its faith in progress and the future, as well as its wish for the open, new, strong and united America that you embody.'

Earlier Tuesday, during a visit to the city of Provins, Sarkozy said he was impatient for Obama to take office.

'We are eager to see him go to work so that we can change the world with him,' Sarkozy said.

However, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner sounded a more sober note in warning that Obama could not work political miracles.

'He is an exceptional man,' Kouchner said, 'but he does not have a magic wand.'