Chirac, Bush speak by phone for first time in over two months

PARIS -- French President Jacques Chirac, seeking to repair ties frayed by the Iraq war, spoke with President Bush for the first time in more than two months Tuesday and appeared to temper earlier demands that the United Nations be at the center of Iraq's reconstruction.\nChirac called Bush and told him in a 20-minute telephone conversation that France is willing to adopt a "pragmatic approach" on postwar issues, said the French leader's spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna.\nAmong the issues cited by Chirac were Iraq's administration and reconstruction, its rich oil resources, international sanctions still in place against Iraq and plans for an interim government, Colonna said.\nChirac also told Bush he welcomed the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime and the brevity of the war. He also expressed condolences for American deaths in the conflict.\nWhite House spokesman Ari Fleischer called the conversation "businesslike."\nHe said the two leaders agreed Syria should not harbor Iraqi leaders, and they discussed Iraq reconstruction and Mideast peace. Colonna said Chirac quizzed Bush about his intentions toward Syria and expressed hope "that nothing happens to increase tensions in the region."\nThey also talked about the G-8 summit. Bush scrapped a planned visit to Canada on May 5 so he could monitor Iraq developments, but still plans to attend the summit in Evian, France, Fleischer said.\nIt was the second clear signal in recent days that the French leader wants to repair damage done to relations with Washington by their conflicting views of the Iraq war. France led European opposition to the U.S.-led military campaign, sparking anger and boycotts of French products in the United States.\nChirac, his spokeswoman said, told Bush that his view on the need for the war remain unchanged.\nBut he appeared to soften his view of the postwar situation. Notably absent from Colonna's account of the phone call were earlier demands from Chirac that the United Nations get a "central role" in post-Saddam Iraq.\nInstead she said that the United Nations should be involved "as soon as possible." She did not use the word "central."\n"France believes that the international community should give itself the best possible chance and thus make room for the United Nations as soon as possible," Colonna said. "It's in the interests of everyone."\nShe described the two leaders' conversation as "positive." Chirac's office said it was the first time the two men had spoken since Feb. 7, before relations soured when France said it would veto a U.S.-backed resolution at the U.N. Security Council authorizing the use of force against Iraq.\nChirac first signaled Saturday that he hopes to mend ties with Washington.