Al-Hariri in Paris to discuss aid

The Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri will pay a visit to France by the end of this week following an absence of 4 months.

During this visit, he will be meeting with several French officials and hold with them discussions on several issues of concern to the two countries, including two main issues: to brief about the results of the economic talks started between the two governments on February 13 and 15 this year under the premiers of the two countries. The said talks included France's support for the efforts made by Lebanon to join the Association Agreement with the European Union and to help the Lebanese government to eliminate its economic crisis, through providing technical and technological aids and financial loans.

The second issue is to learn from the Lebanese side about latest developments to convene the Francophonic ( for French speaking countries ) summit which Lebanon will host by the end of this October and consultations on electing a new secretary general for the Francophonic to succeed the current secretary general Butrous Butrous Ghali.