Article published on the 2009-09-16 Latest update 2009-09-16 10:46 TU
Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured in Paris in July 2008) have found common ground on a number of issues
(Photo: Reuters)
In a telephone conversation, Obama and Sarkozy reiterated their will to implement the decisions made at the group's last summit in London.
"They agreed to work in close coordination to make the Pittsburgh meeting a success, allowing new decisions to be taken to ensure sustainable growth, reinforce the international financial system, reform international financial institutions and make them more efficient," said a statement from Sarkozy's office.
The White House said Obama and Sarkozy discussed a shared strategic agenda.
"The two leaders discussed preparations for the upcoming G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, including the need to address a broad range of regulatory reform issues, including capital and executive compensation," a White House statement said.
The question of Iran’s nuclear policy also came under scrutiny.
"The two leaders discussed the status of diplomatic efforts to bring Iran into compliance with its international obligations on its nuclear program," said a statement.
The call came ahead of a 1 October meeting between Iran and the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany set to test Tehran's readiness to discuss concerns over its nuclear programme, which Western governments and Israel suspect is a cover to build an atomic bomb.
Iran maintains the programme aims to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Sarkozy and Obama also discussed efforts to breathe life back into the stalled Middle East peace talks and "agreed to continue working with key players in the Middle East region on setting the conditions necessary to restart Israeli-Arab peace negotiations," the White House said.