What a difference a day makes: yesterday, US Secretary of State John Kerry was saying he had no intention of apologising for America's absence at Sunday's unity march in Paris.
He would, however, be sharing a 'big hug' with Paris.
Today, that hug was very much in evidence as he embraced French president Francois Hollande.
But Kerry has also already said sorry for not attending the Je Suis Charlie rally, according to the France's foreign minister.
Kerry arrived in Paris this morning for a trip aimed at showing unity between the two countries after the States failed to send a high profile representative at the weekend.
America's absence has received widespread criticism, although Kerry has contended US officials
had been 'deeply engaged' with French authorities since the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack and characterized sideswiping at the Obama administration as 'sort of quibbling a little bit.'
had been 'deeply engaged' with French authorities since the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack and characterized sideswiping at the Obama administration as 'sort of quibbling a little bit.'
'Our Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was there and marched, our ambassador was there and marched, many people from the embassy were there and marched,' Kerry stated.
Kerry - who couldn't attend because of existing commitments - told a news conference on Thursday: 'I don't feel any other exigencies, other than continuation of our friendship and our responsibilities as good friends and the longest ally in our history, and that's why I am going.'
But French foreign minister Laurent Fabius - who accompanied Kerry to view wreaths laid outside the Jewish supermarket targeted in last week's terror attacks - said today Kerry had 'apologised'.
Kerry also met with Hollande, who thanked Kerry for his country's support as the two undertook a very public show of togetherness outside the Elysee Palace.
'You've been victims yourself of an exceptional terrorist attack on September 11. You know what it means for a country. ... We must find together appropriate responses,' Hollande said.
Meanwhile, just less than three miles away from the Elysee Paris, police had shut and evacuated Gare de L'Est train station after a bomb threat.
The station, one of several main terminals in the French capital, serves cities in eastern Paris and countries to the east.
Kerry also visited the Charlie Hedbo offices in Paris, the funeral of its late editor, Stephane Charbonnier, was taking place some 17 miles away.
Crowds gathered in Pontoise, north of the French capital, where the cartoonist known as 'Charb' was honoured with speeches and music, including some provided by Irish bagpipes.
Two large screens were placed outside St Martin's Hall in Charb's home town, so people could watch what was happening.
The cartoonist Philippe Honore, 74, and Mustapha Ourrad, a 60 year-old Charlie Hebdo copy taker, were also set to be buried today.
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