JEDDAH, 29 October 2007 — French Defense Minister Hervé Morin said yesterday that Paris and Riyadh were in complete agreement over the concern represented by the Iranian nuclear program and its potential to destabilize the region.

Addressing a news conference at King Abdul Aziz International Airport’s Royal Terminal, he said France would continue to apply pressure on Iran in order to bring it back to the negotiating table.

“Sanctions are one way of making Tehran understand our seriousness on the nuclear issue,” he said. “It is in the interest of Iran to choose the path of dialogue and give up its nuclear ambitions.”

Morin met Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah at the Al-Salam Palace on Saturday. Yesterday, he met Crown Prince Sultan, minister of defense and aviation. The two emphasized the strong ties between the two countries. Sultan described France as “a strategic partner” and appreciated French military cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

The French defense minister said Saudi Arabia and France shared a common concern over Tehran’s nuclear program. “We share similar views over a number of issues, including the Iranian and Lebanese ones,” he said.

Morin, in his press conference, said France would not send combat troops to Afghanistan, but would instead send a training unit to prepare the Afghan Army forces to take on the resurgent Taleban in the country’s south. “We will increase the number of trainers,” he said.

Morin’s comments are significant because they come against a backdrop of a warning from the Netherlands last week that public pressure could force it to pull its 1,600 troops out of Afghanistan’s south if there is not more support from other allies. That prospect has raised fears that one nation after another could pull its forces back from the Afghan front line.

Morin added that France would continue to provide air support to NATO nations with troops in the south. He stressed the importance of training Afghan forces so they could defend their own country and eventually allow international forces to leave.

On Lebanon, Morin said France was not interested in taking sides. “We want to see a united and independent Lebanon in which the sanctity of the constitution is upheld. We don’t favor any particular candidate for presidency. That is for the people of Lebanon to decide without any interference from outside,” he said. “For us the most important thing is to protect Lebanon’s territorial integrity.” On Iraq, Morin said France’s stand had always been clear. “We want all parties in Iraq to reconcile with each other. We want them to give preference to dialogue in order to sort things out,” he added.

Asked about Saudi investment in French defense industries, Morin said: “We welcome Arab investment. The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company already has UAE and Qatari funds in its capital. So there is no reason for such investments not to be made in French or European firms as long as it is in the interest of the company.”