French defense minister due in Saudi on July 27

French Defense Minister Alain Richard will travel to Saudi Arabia next week for talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Sultan, the French embassy in Riyadh said on July 21.

"The minister is coming on July 27. But it will be a very short visit to establish a first contact between the two ministers," an embassy official reported. Richard was appointed in June after parliamentary elections.

"There is no business project in this visit. It is too short anyway," he said.

Prince Sultan, quoted by the Saudi daily Arab news on July 21, said Richard's visit was "a familiarization visit and not for any business."