Stephen Harper and Pauline Marois have had
their first meeting and the Quebec premier says it was an
``excellent'' one.
   
The two leaders had a private encounter this morning just before
the official opening of la Francophonie summit in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
   
Marois suggested that agreements are still possible between her
sovereignist government and Ottawa despite their widely divergent
political views.
   
During the recent election campaign, which culminated in a Parti
Quebecois minority government, the sovereigntist party made it clear
it would seek more powers from Ottawa _ and then claim that
federalism didn't work if it didn't get them.
   
The two leaders discussed various issues including asbestos and
the free-trade deal between Canada and Europe.
   
The thornier issue of more powers for Quebec was not on the
agenda.
   
(The Canadian Press)