Lebanon’s Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri is scheduled to pay a one-day, official visit to France on July 1st and meet with top officials of the French government, it was revealed in Paris on Tuesday.
Al-Hariri is due to hold talks with French President Jacques Chirac and Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, the French foreign ministry announced, according to the Kuwait News Agency.
The Lebanese Premier will also meet with France’s new Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
He is expected to discuss, during his visit, means to strengthen cooperation on a number of levels. Relations between the European Union and Lebanon are also likely to be addressed, according to diplomats. In addition, the situation in the Middle East region will also be reviewed, including an update on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in light of the French foreign minister’s current tour of the region.
De Villepin, after holding talks with officials in Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories, will conclude his regional tour on Wednesday in the Saudi Kingdom. (Albawaba.com)
