Chirac extends 'friendship' to Bush ahead of 9/11 anniversary

HELSINKI: President Jacques Chirac has written to George W Bush to remind the US President of France's "friendship and solidarity" with America ahead of the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.    

Despite often strained relations with his US counterpart, Chirac stressed France's strong ties with the United States in a letter made public on the sidelines of a Europe-Asia summit in Helsinki.   

"In these days of sad commemorations, I wish to express the friendship and solidarity of the French people with the American people to you," he wrote.   

The United States is to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on Monday with wreath-laying ceremonies, memorial services and personal tributes to the nearly 3,000 people who died.   

Although Chirac was among the first world leaders to extend support to the United States during a visit shortly after the attacks, relations with Washington hit all-time lows in the run-up to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which Paris staunchly opposed.   

"Our meeting on September 18 in Washington sealed the agreement between our two countries to fight terrorism," Chirac said.