French and US defense ministers to visit Saudi Arabia in the coming days

French Defense Minister Alain Richard and US Secreatry of Defense William Cohen will pay official visits to Saudi Arabia during the coming days to discuss means of boosting military cooperation discussing issues of joint concern as well as the situation in the Gulf.

Richard is to discuss with his Saudi counterpart Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz enhancing military cooperation and a transaction for French Leclerc tanks, regarding which adjustments were made according to Saudi demands.

Diplomatic sources in Riyadh depicted French - Saudi relations as excellent, referring to that the volume of commercial exchange between the two countries, which reached $4.1 billion for 1997.

Cohen will also visit Saudi Arabia in a tour of the area, during which he will discuss with Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz new developments in the area, the situation in the Gulf, developments in the peace process and military cooperation between the two countries.