Riyadh: Sanctions against Iran need to be tightened following its refusal to meet the international community's requirements at talks held recently, said the French Prime Minister on Saturday while expressing his and other Western countries' concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.
Speaking at a press conference aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off Saudi Arabia's Red Sea city of Jeddah, Francois Fillon, the French Premier, said: "We have to tighten sanctions against Iran after it refused to meet our requirements during talks in Istanbul in January - and also to convince it to return to the negotiating table."
Earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud received the French Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation at his palace in Riyadh. According to the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to boost them, as well as the latest developments in the regional and international arenas.
Fillon said his country was closely following developments in Egypt and Tunisia but would not interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries.
He said with Hosni Mubarak stepping down a new chapter has started for the people of Egypt and France hopes peace and stability will prevail in the North African country.
Fillon added that France was also following the developments in Lebanon after the appointment of Najib Mikati as the new Lebanese prime minister, and the new government should reflect the hopes and aspirations of the Lebanese people.
"We have called upon the Lebanese government to respect international obligations, particularly those pertaining to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon," he said, and added that France is ready to help Lebanon in bringing about political reconciliation.
The French Premier said his country maintains strong military co-operation with Saudi Arabia, citing joint military exercises between the two countries and the more than 500 Saudi engineers and officers receiving training in France.
"We have discussed with Saudi officials our readiness to modernise the Kingdom's defence forces and upgrade its surveillance and security systems," he said.
Fillon added he also discussed arms deals with the Saudi authorities and the Kingdom's purchase of surveillance satellites. He said Saudi Arabia and France have decided to continue their co-operation in fighting terrorism.
Expressing satisfaction over the economic co-operation between the two countries, Fillon said Saudi Arabia was France's number one business partner in the Gulf region. He expressed his country's readiness for a tenfold increase in the number of Saudis studying in France.
Fillon added that his discussions with Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia, also touched upon developments in the region. Saudi Arabia is one of France's trusted partners in the G20, he said.
Do sanctions work? What needs to be done in order for Iran to meet the international community’s requirements?
