Sarkozy pays tribute to wife on Britain visit 28/03/2008 00:00

Nicolas Sarkozy paid tribute Thursday to his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, saying he was proud that the world had seen her true personality during the state visit to Britain.

   LONDON, March 2_, 2008  - French President Nicolas Sarkozy paid
tribute Thursday to his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, saying he was proud that the
world had seen her true personality during the state visit to Britain.
   "Might I say that I have been proud and happy over the last two days,"
Sarkozy told a press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
   "So much has been said and so much has been written that I am proud that
people have seen her for what she really is, and that there is a sense of
justice," the president said.
   Sarkozy responded caustically when a French journalist asked whether he was
afraid that Bruni-Sarkozy had overshadowed him on the two-day visit, saying
clearly the newsman had a "very insensitive experience of marriage",
   He said "wretched articles" had been written over the past few weeks about
Bruni-Sarkozy, a 40-year-old former model who counts rock star Mick Jagger
among her former boyfriends.
   Sarkozy said his wife had done France proud "not simply because of the way
she looks, but beyond that everyone understands that this is a woman who has
belief, sensitivity and humanity."
   Brown said to laughter from journalists that Bruni-Sarkozy was "welcome to
visit Britain at any time".
   Brown's wife Sarah, who co-hosted a lunch with Carla at the same time as
the summit, also praised the French first lady, telling her: "I think we can
expect great things of Nicolas, with you at his side."
   Photographs of the president's wife dominated the front pages of British
newspapers Thursday, with many commentators comparing her outfits and sense of
style to Jackie Onassis.
   Sarkozy married Bruni-Sarkozy on February 2 after a stormy break-up with
his former wife, Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz.
   Cecilia married a Moroccan-born events organizer in New York on Sunday.