Toe-curling diplomacy: US woos France with hugs, kisses and a VERY awkward rendition of 'You've Got a Friend' by James Taylor to make up for snubbing terror march
- Contrite Secretary of State arrived in Paris for belated show of unity
- Followed White House choice not to send anyone important to Paris march
- Hugged and kissed cheek of president Hollande in cringeworthy greeting
- Spoke in mostly-fluent French, but stumbled over difficult word
- Brought along James Taylor for musical accompaniment on make-up visit
- Kerry said yesterday he would not apologise for earlier snub
- But French foreign minister confirmed Kerry already said sorry
A
grovelling John Kerry hugged and kissed French president Francois
Hollande in a show of contrition after nobody important from the White
House joined a solidarity march in the wake of the terror attack on
Paris.
The
Secretary of State even brought back-up for his visit in the form of
singer James Taylor, who patched up the United States's oldest
diplomatic relationship with a rendition of 'You've got a friend'.
Arriving
at the presidential Elysée Palace, Kerry reached out his hands for
Hollande, embraced him closely, then appeared to kiss him on the cheek
in an awkward display for the cameras.
He later gave a message from the American people, delivered in almost-fluent French.
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Close
relationship: Secretary of State John Kerry leaned in to embrace French
president Francois Hollande on a make-up visit after missing an
enormous solidarity march last week
Hollande told Kerry the two countries must 'find together appropriate responses' to terror attacks
Show
of solidarity: The Secretary of State brought along singer James
Taylor, right, to give a rendition of 'You've got a friend' at Paris
City Hall
Together:
John Kerry (right, with French President Francois Hollande) arrived in
Paris this morning, more than a week after the first terror attack on
the office's of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo
None
too subtle: The crooner played You've got a friend, as well as French
national anthem La Marseillaise - to emphasize ties between France and
the United States. Left, Kerry watches the performance with Paris mayor
Anne Hidalgo
Hollande
and Kerry made sure to present a very public display of togetherness
during the visit, with this awkward hug outside of the Elysee Palace
''You've been victims yourself of an exceptional terrorist attack on September 11
Kerry
told Hollande: 'I wanted to tell you personally of the horror and
revulsion that all Americans felt at these cowardly and despicable
attacks against innocent victims and fundamental values.'
But despite his best efforts, he stumbled when pronouncing 'dégoût' - the French word for revulsion.
Kerry
was not available to personally join Hollande and leaders from dozens
of other Western nations last week when they marched in solidarity with
the victims of an armed terrorist massacre.
The
White House later admitted it was a mistake not to send a high-profile
representative, and said Barack Obama would have liked to go to honor
the deaths of staff at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
State
Department officials denied that Kerry had apologized for American
absence at the march - or that the current event was his way of saying
sorry.
But French officials said he had already apologized in private.
Singer-songwriter
James Taylor was Kerry's weapon of choice for the public make-up with
the French, often lauded as the U.S.'s 'oldest ally'.
At
an acoustic performance in Paris's city hall, Taylor strummed French
national anthem La Marseillaise, then serenaded Kerry, Hollande and the
mayor of Paris with his 1971 hit 'You've got a friend.'
Hero: Also present at the Elysée
Palace was Lassana Bathily (pictured), the man who saved several Jewish
shoppers during a hostage situation in Paris last week
Honoured: The Malian immigrant,
pictured here greeting US Secretary of State John Kerry, is being
granted French citizenship in light of his heroics
America's absence has received widespread criticism, although Kerry has contended US officials
had been 'deeply engaged' with French authorities since the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack.
had been 'deeply engaged' with French authorities since the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack.
He said attacking the Obama administration was 'sort of quibbling a little bit' - despite the White House's backpedaling.
'Our
Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was there and marched, our
ambassador was there and marched, many people from the embassy were
there and marched,' Kerry stated.
Kerry - who couldn't attend because of existing commitments - told a news conference on Thursday:
'I don't feel any other exigencies, other than continuation of our
friendship and our responsibilities as good friends and the longest ally
in our history, and that's why I am going.'
But
French foreign minister Laurent Fabius - who accompanied Kerry to view
wreaths laid outside the Jewish supermarket targeted in last week's
terror attacks - said today Kerry had 'apologised'.
While the two were getting close outside the Elysee Palace, one of Paris's main stations had to be evacuated after a bomb scare
The US Secretary of State certainly made good on his promise to give a 'big hug' to Paris during the visit
Kerry was joined by French foreign minister Laurent Fabius on a trip to see the wreaths outside the Charlie Hebdo offices
Twelve were killed in last Wednesday's
brutal attack by brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi - who were angry at
the satirical magazine's cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed
Sunday's march, attended by leaders from across the world, was a show of unity with the magazine and a rally for free speech
Kerry
also met with Hollande, who thanked Kerry for his country's support as
the two undertook a very public show of togetherness outside the Elysee
Palace.
'You've
been victims yourself of an exceptional terrorist attack on September
11. You know what it means for a country. ... We must find together
appropriate responses,' Hollande said.
Meanwhile,
just less than three miles away from the Elysee Paris, police had shut
and evacuated Gare de L'Est train station after a bomb threat.
The station, one of several main terminals in the French capital, serves cities in eastern Paris and countries to the east.
Kerry
also visited the Charlie Hedbo offices in Paris, the funeral of its
late editor, Stephane Charbonnier, was taking place some 17 miles away.
The funeral of Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane 'Charb' Charbonnier also took place this morning
French cartoonist Renald Luzier, aka Luz, juggles with a clementine as he arrives for the funeral in Pontoise, outside Paris
His funeral is
one of several taking place today, while more took place yesterday -
including the funeral of cartoonist Bernard 'Tignous' Verlhac, 57
Crowds
gathered in Pontoise, north of the French capital, where the cartoonist
known as 'Charb' was honoured with speeches and music, including some
provided by Irish bagpipes.
Two large screens were placed outside St Martin's Hall in Charb's home town, so people could watch what was happening.
The
cartoonist Philippe Honore, 74, and Mustapha Ourrad, a 60 year-old
Charlie Hebdo copy taker, were also set to be buried today.
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