[originaltext] Ties between the United States and France reached a low point

Ties between the United States and France reached a low point during last year’s U. S. -led war in Iraq, which Paris staunchly opposed.  But in recent months, there have been signs of warming relations, not only with France, but with other European opponents to the war. In a concession to the United States last month, France and other Paris Club creditors agreed to cancel’80-percent of the debt Iraq owed them. Paris and Washington have also collaborated in other matters, like a joint United Nations resolution demanding the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon. And officials say that bilateral cooperation in areas such as NATO operations in Afghanistan or the war against terrorism has always been good, despite diplomatic differences on Iraq. With President Bush’s re-election last month, some experts say, France and other European countries now want to turn a fresh page in their transatlantic dialogue with the United States.