Chirac to visit Syria mid October

Syrian deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara on Saturday received the new French ambassador to Syria Jean Francois Girlaut. Al-Shara wished success in his mission in a way that serves the strengthening of the good relations between Syria and France. Al-Shara also welcomed the French President Jacques Chirac's visit, due to be held to Syria in mid October at the invitation of President Bashar al-Assad.

Discussions between al-Shara and the ambassador during the meeting dealt with developments in the ME region, developments concerning Iraq and cooperation between Syria and France at the UN Security Council.