French president speaks on the telephone with President al-Assad

French President Jacques Chirac has expressed in a telephone call he held with President Hafez al-Assad on Monday his hope on the possibility of convening a meeting for the April Understanding Committee as soon as possible.

The spokeswoman for the presidential palace Elysee Catherine Colona added that the telephone call enabled the two presidents to evaluate the conditions in the Middle East especially the questions pertaining to South Lebanon in light of the recent days.

Colona added that the French president expressed concern over the current tension and hoped the countries of the region will be able to contribute to easing down the situation, in remarks to the intensified conditions in South Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

The spokeswoman added that having the situation as such, the French president expressed the hope that the monitoring committee will be able to meet as soon as possible.

Meantime, SANA said in this regard that President Hafez al-Assad on Monday received a telephone call from President Jacques Chirac of France. The two Presidents exchanged views on the peace process; current contacts in this regard and developments in the Lebanese arena.

Al-Assad stressed Syria's backing for Lebanon and for its just demands. The conversation between the two presidents also dealt with bilateral relations between Syria and France.