PARIS, 14 April 2005 — Crown Prince Abdullah and President Jacques Chirac yesterday expressed their keenness to build stronger relations between Saudi Arabia and France.
“France is very keen on its special relations with Saudi Arabia,” Chirac said, adding that French institutions and companies are willing to participate in the Kingdom’s development programs.
Chirac accorded a warm welcome to Prince Abdullah and highlighted the “partnership” relations between France and Saudi Arabia. At a dinner hosted in honor of Prince Abdullah and his entourage at Elysee Palace, Chirac offered his country’s full support for Saudi Arabia’s anti-terror campaign.
Prince Abdullah and Chirac held bilateral talks before the dinner and their talks focused on major regional and international developments, the situation in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon as well as the need to revive Arab peace plan.
Prince Abdullah, in his speech, emphasized the historic and strong relations between Saudi Arabia and France, adding that he looked forward to further strengthening these ties.
Prince Abdullah, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived here yesterday at the start of a three-day official visit. According to the Royal Court, he will also visit the United States.
Chirac praised Saudi Arabia’s “ambitious” reform program, and its efforts to promote national dialogue. Chirac said such reforms must be in accord with the people’s will and in keeping with their special cultural identity.
Chirac lauded Saudi Arabia’s efforts in combating terrorism. “Saudi Arabia has galvanized the war on terror by convening the counterterrorism international conference in Riyadh,” he pointed out.
President Chirac commended Saudi Arabia’s role in international affairs as well as in stabilizing world oil market. He described Saudi Arabia as the bedrock of the region’s stability. He spoke about elections in Iraq and urged all Iraqis to refrain from violence and build a democratic Iraq.
Chirac hoped that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would help push forward the road map in order to establish a Palestinian state beside Israel living in peace and harmony.
In this respect, Chirac noted the crown prince’s peace initiative, which was endorsed by the 2002 Arab League summit in Beirut. He said the initiative, which was relaunched at the Algiers summit last month, would remain the basis of Middle East peace negotiations.
He described the EU3 talks with Iran as “concerning the peaceful use of its nuclear program”. “An agreement would give a new dimension to Iran’s relations with the states in the region and the members of the international community,” Chirac said.
Earlier on arrival, the crown prince was greeted at Orly Airport, south of Paris, by Chirac and top officials. Today, the two leaders will hold a working lunch, and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin will host a dinner in honor of the crown prince.
The meetings will cover “international and regional issues, especially the situation in Lebanon, the Middle East and Iraq, as well as terrorism,” said French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei. The two days of talks will also address the “political, civilian, military and economic” aspects of Franco-Saudi relations, Mattei said.
Meanwhile, White House spokesman Scott McClellan announced yesterday that US President George W. Bush would welcome the crown prince to his Texas ranch on April 25.
“The president looks forward to discussing a wide range of key bilateral and regional issues with the crown prince, including our efforts to promote democratic reform and achieve peace in the Middle East and win the global war on terrorism,” said McClellan.
