Blair and Chirac patch it up, but the Mills & Boon moment is missing

The perfect Mills & Boon moment was at hand. After being apart for more than 10 long weeks, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac finally got some time alone together yesterday when they peeled off from the EU summit in Athens.

As their eyes met across the tranquil courtyard of Zappeion Hall, a fountain burbling gently between them, the longed-for rapprochement looked to have finally arrived.

But within seconds, the rude reality of the war on Iraq interrupted as a police helicopter buzzed overhead and blaring sirens signalled that riot police had engaged thousands of peace activists protesting in the capital.

The shattered ambience did not prevent Mr Blair and M. Chirac having their longest meeting since their Le Touquet tête-à-tête in February, but it set the tone.

They shared an aim of burying the hatchet, though not in each other's backs. Onlookers claimed that the pair tried to make their entente a bit more cordiale, chatting about the Middle East, the EU and Iraq.

Mr Blair's aides said it was a purely chance meeting and simply added to their increasingly warm phone calls in recent weeks. "This is not the kiss and make-up summit. We passed that point some time ago," a spokesman said primly.

"The Prime Minister went to get some fresh air and President Chirac had the same idea. They met and had a good 20-25 minutes together.

"It was very friendly, very useful, perfectly amicable ... completely spontaneous." Not quite the language of love.

Given the months that diplomats spend carefully choreographing every second of these summits, it was hard to believe that the pair had just bumped into each other. But the message from No 10 was clear: Mr Blair was not going to go out of his way to exchange pleasantries with the French leader.

Despite the warm words, it was clear that wounds were raw and even the handshake between the two men was not seen in public.

It was, however, a day of great symbolism for the new Europe, in the ancient city that gave birth to democracy. Leaders of 25 nations signed an accession treaty designed to heal the deepest divisions of the 20th century. A ceremony in the shadow of the ancient Acropolis saw 10 nations sign up for membership of the European Union, including eight former Communist countries.

Given that the Olympic Games are to return to their original home next year, it was perhaps fitting that the signing ceremony turned into a marathon. In theory, each leader had three minutes for a speech but what with all the book-signing and bowing, it made the Oscars look a model of brevity.

When Mr Blair had his turn, his reference to "whatever differences we may have" was greeted by a shrug from M. Chirac and a sudden interest in the presidential shoes. Mr Blair looked a million miles away as the French leader made his speech.

After the ceremony was over, it was time for the traditional "family photo" of EU leaders. But Mr Blair wasn't sticking around.

Ostensibly, he had to get back for the War Cabinet today. Yet Mr Blair clearly couldn't bear the prospect of small talk, let alone meeting M. Chirac again. On a day of symbolism, nothing was more symbolic than his early exit.