PARIS, 20 July 2006 — French President Jacques Chirac and Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, discussed the latest international developments, particularly the grave situation in Lebanon and Palestine, at the Elysee Palace yesterday.
Israel has enforced a blockade of both Palestine and Lebanon and has launched airstrikes against them.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Iraq and bilateral relations including ways to improve ties in all fields, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal was also among those attending the meeting.
French Parliament Speaker Jean-Louis Debre later received Prince Sultan at his office. Debre also hosted a dinner in honor of the crown prince and his delegation.
Prince Sultan arrived yesterday on a state visit on an invitation from Chirac, the SPA reported. French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin received Prince Sultan and his delegation at Orly Airport.
The French president said the visit by the Saudi crown prince would positively contribute to further enhancing Saudi-French relations.
Chirac said in a message to the Saudi people published in Arabic newspapers yesterday that France and Saudi Arabia have “close” positions on the current crisis in the Middle East.
The visit “comes at a time when the region is going through renewed tension, necessitating consultation between our two countries, whose positions are very close,” Chirac said. “The Kingdom has been playing an important role in the region, and has been following a moderate policy.”
Another report said the Kingdom and France would seek to formulate a joint position to end the bloodshed in Lebanon, possibly by backing a multinational force.
The two countries have also been courting each other for stronger business ties.
“We hope to reinforce our cooperation in all areas at a moment when the Kingdom is engaged in a process of economic and social reforms,” French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said.
French Ambassador Charles-Henri D’Aragon said last week that Saudi Arabia’s accession to the World Trade Organization and liberalization of its trade policies had paved the way for new opportunities for foreign investors.
France has also indicated an interest in security-related contracts, such as training security forces, and other bilateral arrangements.
Chirac visited the Kingdom with a high-level delegation of ministers and top business executives in March.
Chirac expressed appreciation for the warm welcome given to him in March by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
Prince Saud said on Tuesday that Lebanon’s crisis would be on the agenda of the discussion between the two leaders. Saud has expressed the Kingdom’s willingness to support a UN-backed stabilization force in Lebanon if approved by the Lebanese government.
Saudi Arabia and France played a key role in assisting in the reconstruction of Lebanon in the wake of its 1975-1990 civil war, a period which also witnessed a full-scale Israeli invasion in 1982.
In April 2005, King Abdullah visited Paris when he was the crown prince.
Currently, there are 60 Saudi-French joint ventures in the Kingdom. The latest additions to the network include BNP Bank and the AGEF Insurance Company.
Last year Saudi exports to France stood at 3.6 billion euros while its imports from France were valued at 1.6 billion euros. Saudi Arabia remains the third largest oil supplier of France.
Today, the crown prince will hold talks with his French counterpart, Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, where he is expected to discuss matters of regional security.
— With input from M. Rasooldeen.
