Abdullah praises strong bonds linking UAE and France

PARIS — UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks yesterday with his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, on ways of enhancing bilateral relations and on the latest developments in the region.

By (Wam)

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Published: Thu 19 Jul 2007, 8:45 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 3:12 AM

During the talks at the French Foreign Ministry, Shaikh Abdullah praised the strong bonds linking the UAE and France, describing them as “close, strong and strategic in political, security, cultural and economic domains. I have agreed with the French Foreign Minister to pursue consultations and I have invited him to visit the UAE,” Shaikh Abdullah said.

Shaikh Abdullah also expressed his appreciation of France’s initiative to bring the disputing factions in Lebanon back to the conference table. Praising the policy adopted by France towards the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, Shaikh Abdullah also praised the decision by the Sudanese government to accept a hybrid peace force in the region.

Shaikh Abdullah said that the meeting with Kouchner had also reviewed the situation in Iraq. The two ministers had both voiced concern over the repercussions of the continued violence in Iraq and had agreed on the need to maintain security and stability in the Arab country, he said.

The Middle East peace process, Shaikh Abdullah added, also figured prominently in the talks. He noted the call by US President George W. Bush for the convening of an international conference on peace in the Middle East.

Shaikh Abdullah also stressed the importance of reviving the Middle East peace process in the light of the Arab peace initiative and expressed the support of the UAE for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and for the government of Salam Fiyadh.

His talks with the French Minister, he added, had also looked at the Iran ‘nuclear file’ and the current situation in Afghanistan, while the UAE Minister also expressed his praise for the policy currently being adopted by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

The French Minister told Wam that he had been pleased with the results of the meeting.

“There is wonderful harmony between the UAE and France and both countries are pursuing sincere efforts to boost bilateral cooperation in all fields,” he said.


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