WASHINGTON, DC
The White House's Blue Room is decorated in the French imperial style, decorated with Paris-made gilded sofas and for the first time in 20 years, about to host a French leader.
President Barack Obama - set to host the first head of state since his re-election in 2012 for a second term - is reported to have instructed his office to welcome President Francois Hollande in the best possible way.
The White House will host Hollande Tuesday morning, and then - following an arrival ceremony - Obama and his French counterpart will hold a bilateral meeting and press conference.
After lunch with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department, Hollande will participate in a ceremony to honor six veterans of World War II, and then meet with American business leaders.
And then it is off to the Blue Room, which Anadolu Agency has been fortunate enough to photograph ahead of the meeting - the only Turkish agency to be given permission to do so.
White House curator Bill Allman has spoken of the room's extravagance, saying it is filled with old art works and paintings which illustrate the centuries of relations between France and the U.S.
After the meeting, the day will be capped with a state dinner at the South Lawn section of the White House, which will be followed by an exclusive concert by American singer Mary J. Blige.
englishews@aa.com.tr
