Barnieh visited Libya to prepare for Chirac's visit

The French Foreign Minister Michael Barnieh arrived in Tripoli yesterday and met with the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi in preparations for the visit to be held by the French President Jack Chirac "before the end of the year," the first visit for a French President since more than two decades.

Barnieh said after his meeting with his Libyan counterpart Abdul Rahman Shalwam that "a new important phase ( in the relations between France and Libya) will be achieved before the end of the year coupled with the visit of President Chirac" to Tripoli.

He added " I will hand over a message from Chirac to al-Qathafi including his approval to hold the visit." Barnieh also met with the Libyan prime minister Shukri Ghanem.