RIYADH, 4 June 2008 — French Defense Minister Herve Morin ended a two-day official visit to the Kingdom yesterday after holding fruitful talks with Saudi officials on bilateral cooperation, a senior diplomat from the French Embassy said.
Thanking the Saudi government for the warm welcome extended to him during the visit, the French minister said he was happy that he was able to meet with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and other officials during his brief stay in the Kingdom.
Morin held talks with Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs, in Riyadh yesterday. Prince Khaled and Morin reviewed regional issues of mutual interest. Chief of Staff Gen. Saleh Al-Mohayya and French Ambassador Bertrand Besancenot were present at the talks.
Prince Khaled, who welcomed Morin on behalf of Crown Prince Sultan, the deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, said that the visit would further enhance relations between the two countries.
Morin met in Riyadh late Monday with Prince Miteb ibn Abdullah, assistant deputy commander of the National Guard.
The French diplomat said the two parties agreed on several regional issues, including their stand on the Middle East peace process and the easing situation in Lebanon.
Morin, who met with King Abdullah in Jeddah on Monday, delivered to the king a message from French President Nicolas Sarkozy dealing with regional issues, particularly Lebanon.
Sarkozy will visit Lebanon on Saturday, becoming the first Western head of state to meet Michel Sleiman since the former army chief was elected Lebanese president on May 25 following a Qatari-brokered deal to end an 18-month political crisis.
Morin left the Saudi capital later yesterday.
