PARIS, 9 April 2004 — The Saudi Arabian state-owned oil group Saudi Aramco and the Institute Francais du Petrole (IFP) are in talks on possible cooperation in research and training, the IFP said yesterday in a statement. Saudi Aramco’s President and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah S. Jumah met IFP President Olivier Appert “to discuss the terms of a protocol accord which will be signed shortly”, the French institute said. Possible areas of cooperation include a partnership in research projects, joint studies, training and personnel exchanges, its statement added.