French official for increasing pensions paid to foreign soldiers

French President Jacques Chirac met on Wednesday with a group of Moroccan war veterans who took part in the French military parade that marks France's national day in Paris and were invited to attend the traditional garden party held at the end of the parade.

Representing soldiers who took part in World War II, the delegation members were donning the Moroccan traditional dress, and proudly bearing the medals and rank badges, symbol of their courage that earned them the admiration of the French and allied colleagues.

The French president posed for a family picture with the Moroccan delegation.

Meanwhile, French secretary of state in charge of former war veterans, Jean-Pierre Masseret, said beyond the tribute paid to these soldiers, the French government has to increase the pensions paid to foreign soldiers who sacrified their blood for a country that is not theirs.

He added that there is "a duty of memory" requiring to teach to young generations history and its meaning and make them aware that the enrollment of men and women was made at the expense of their own individual life.

On a side note, French President Jacques Chirac said he was very impressed by the Moroccan royal guard which paraded on Wednesday together with French soldiers in Paris with "quality and elegance."