French president confers with Bashar al-Assad

French President Jacques Chirac on Sunday received Bashar al-Assad, son of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, at the Paris Elysee Palace.

AFP said that French President Jacques Chirac and Bashar discussed at a luncheon banquet held in honor of Bashar by the French president a number of "international issues, especially the Middle East peace process."

Upon leaving the French presidential palace, Bashar told reporters that France plays a key role in Middle East peace negotiations. He added that the European role in the Middle East peace process is very important and is complementary to the efforts made by the US in this regard.

Bashar continued that his talks with the French president also dealt with the current situation in the Middle East and the deadlocked Middle East peace process since 1996. He expressed hope that peace talks on the Middle East will be resumed, stressing that resumption of negotiations depends on the good intention of the Israeli side.

Moreover, AFP quoted a source at the French Presidential palace as saying that Chirac held a two and a half hour meeting with Bashar.

Bashar recently made a tour that covered Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states. During these visits, Bashar al-Assad held talks wit the leaders of these Arab states on means of strengthening bilateral relations with Syria.

The tour held by Bashar covered Saudi Arabia on August 11, Bahrain, and Kuwait on September 21 and 24 and Oman on October 27.