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Syria's Assad meets French envoys to reinforce ties

Syrian President Bashar Al Assad met two senior aides of the French president on Sunday, the latest sign of improving bilateral relations following Syria's involvement in ending a political crisis in Lebanon.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 19:04 June 15, 2008
  • Gulf News

Damascus: Syrian President Bashar Al Assad met two senior aides of the French president on Sunday, the latest sign of improving bilateral relations following Syria's involvement in ending a political crisis in Lebanon.

Last week, Syrian Culture Minister Riad Agha visited Paris.


"The talks were constructive, reflecting agreement on the need to reinforce Syrian-French relations and to continue efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region," the Syrian state news agency said.

Sarkozy's office said in a statement his diplomatic adviser Jean-David Levitte, and chief of staff Claude Gueant, met Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Moualem in Syria.

It said the French envoys had given Assad "a message" without specifying its content.

The two sides also discussed Sarkozy's project for a Mediterranean Union, which is due to be launched at a summit in Paris on July 13.

Sarkozy has invited leaders from all the countries that line the Mediterranean to the summit and the Bastille Day military parade the following day.

The prospect of Assad at the ceremonies has unsettled the French political opposition, and even left-wing Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said it doesn't make him "especially comfortable".

Last year France halted high-level contacts with Syria, accusing Damascus of stocking tensions in Lebanon, a former French protectorate.

Relations thawed after Syria helped reach a deal, mediated by Qatar last month, which ended the standoff between Lebanon's ruling coalition and an opposition alliance led by Hezbollah - a group backed by both Damascus and Tehran.

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