France’s ambassador to the United States, Pierre Vimont, said during his first visit to Atlanta that the U.S. and France should work together closely on issues ranging from a political resolution to the violence in Iraq and Sudan to global health problems, especially in Africa.

Mr. Vimont was in Atlanta for three days, Oct. 7-9, during which he met with Richard Anderson, the CEO of Delta Air Lines Inc., officials at the Carter Center and spoke at a luncheon of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Inc.

During a filmed interview with GlobalAtlanta at the Carter Center, the ambassador said that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was equally well-known by the Frenchman in the street as France’s senior diplomats for his global humanitarian initiatives.

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Video interview with French Ambassador Pierre Vimont at the Carter Center.

And he supported the efforts of British tycoon Sir Richard Branson to forge a private alliance of former statesmen including Mr. Carter, former South African President Nelson Mandela, retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, retired United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.

He declined to conjecture about whether former French president Jacques Chirac would seek to join the august group now known as “The Elders,” but said that he felt that they could be helpful in addressing political problems around the world.

“It helps for them to be involved in political solutions,” he added. “For instance, in Darfur there are political parties all over the map. Goodwill is useful. It’s a good thing in convincing people of different political persuasions.”

He also said France would work in partnership with the United States and Iraq’s immediate neighbors to arrive at a political solution there.

Mr. Vimont, who moved to Washington in August, added that he has noticed a rise France’s popularity in the U.S. since the election of President Nicholas Sarkozy.

The change in U.S. perception of France was evident during celebrations of the 250th birthday of the Marquis de Lafayette, Mr. Vimont said.

Mr. Lafayette, the French soldier and statesman who participated in both the American and French revolutions, symbolized the important relationship between France and the U.S., according to Mr. Vimont.  His legacy is known in many parts of the U.S. including Georgia, where the city of LaGrange is named after Mr. Lafayette’s home.

At the same time, however, Mr. Vimont is aware of how quickly these feelings can change.  He recalled that in 1995 there had been a rekindling of relations when Mr. Chirac assumed the presidency, but that they had cooled over policy differences involving NATO.

Mr. Vimont also said that he would work to foster even better relations between France and the U.S. by encouraging sister city relationships such as the one between Atlanta and Toulouse, while underscoring the important economic relationships already binding the two countries.

He praised the efforts of all the city’s organizations supporting the French-language, “Francophonie,” events that will be held here on March 1 with a performance at the Rialto Theater of the Grammy award winning recording artist Angelique Kigjo from Benin, and will continue throughout the month with a wide variety of films and lectures.

“We want to improve spreading the French language,” he said. “This is something that I intend to work on a lot.”

He also cited the Louvre Atlanta relationship at the High Museum of Art as a special bond representing the Louvre’s first major overseas initiative.

Although promoting cultural and language ties would be among his top priorities, he underscored the importance of economic cooperation as well.

During the chamber luncheon, he reminded the attendees that French companies have created more than 8,900 jobs in the state, and that France’s trading relationship with Georgia amounts to some $2 billion annually.

And he said that France’s economy should strengthen with the new government’s reforms including cuts in income taxes and tax credits for research and development.

Prior to his present appointment, Mr. Vimont was chief of staff to the minister of foreign affairs, a position he had held since 2002. He was previously ambassador and permanent representative of France to the European Union form 1999 to 2002.

For more information about the ambassador’s visit, contact the Consulate General of France and French Trade Commission in Atlanta.