French FM meets Palestinian minister

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine met on Tuesday with Palestinian Planning and International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath for talks on the Middle East situation.

Shaath is in the French capital for two days, ahead of a visit to the United States with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

Shaath gave Vedrine his "evaluation of the current state of negotiations with Israel," said Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman, Francois Rivasseau.

The two men also discussed bilateral issues and future cooperation between France and the Palestinian state.

France's contribution to reinforcing the Palestinian legal statehood is also on the agenda of discussions.