Al-Assad stresses France, Europe key role

In his second day visit to France, President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday and the French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin held a close- door meeting at the premises of the French cabinet.

The meeting was attended, on the Syrian side by the Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, the minister of the economy and foreign trade Muhammad al-Imadi, the minister of the higher education Hassan Risha and the minister of telecommunications Makram Obeid.

The French side was attended by the foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, the minister of the economy, higher education and transport minister and the director of the Middle East and North Africa department at the French foreign ministry.

Talks dealt with the situation in the Middle East region and other regional issues.

The French prime minister stressed the two countries' determination to work together for the sake of peace. A peace that can not be established only on the ground of the principles of the international legitimacy.

The Syrian president and Jospin listened to presentation read by the ministers taking part in the meeting about what they had achieved in their ministries on various aspects of cooperation among themselves in the fields of higher education, technology transfer and administrative development.

The president made it clear on the prospects that will consolidate bilateral co-operation with France on the political, economic and cultural levels.

The President also commended the relations existing between the two countries in particular, and between France and Arabs in general since the times under the rule of President De Gaulle, which have been going well until the present time.

The President continued that the French and the European role in the ME region is a basic factor in pushing the peace process forward. He encouraged the establishment of French investment projects in Syria so as to serve the interests of the two countries.

The French prime minister confirmed that France views Syria as a basic partner in the region and works for consolidating bilateral relations between the two countries.

Jospin stressed that relations between the two countries will remain strong, whatever changes could be in the region, taking into consideration the importance of clinging to the UN and security council resolutions.

The French side showed readiness to do every thing that can serve the interest of the two countries based on the joint historical relations between them.

It was agreed to continue contacts between the businessmen of the two countries to achieve the aim of the joint co-operation.

The French businessmen expressed satisfaction at what they heard from the President and Syria's determination to realize set objectives for the near future.