French sources: President al-Assad to visit Paris in May or June

The London- based al-Hayat daily said in its Wednesday's issue that it has learnt from a well-informed source in Paris that President Bashar al-Assad will pay a visit to France in May or June this year.

The well-informed source added that the French presidency pins great importance on the visit of President al-Assad and wants to strengthen relation with him and help him concerning the changes in Syria and to modernize its economy, in the course of the peace process.

A French high ranking diplomatic source indicated that the director of the Middle East and North Africa department at the French foreign ministry, who visited both Syria and Lebanon felt during his meeting with President al-Assad fears of an Israeli escalation with Syria in case Ariel Sharon wins the Israeli cabinet presidency.

Concerning the talks of the French director of the Middle East and North Africa department during his visit to Beirut, the source added the visit was an occasion to renew the call for self-control and honoring the blue line in South Lebanon.