FRANCE: PARIS: SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD VISIT (2)

(17 Jul 1998) French/Arabic

French President Jacques Chirac has said there will never be peace in the Middle East without active Syrian involvement.

He made the comments at the end of his second round of talks with visiting Syrian President Hafez Assad.

It's Hafez Assad's first visit to France in 22 years.

Hafez Assad has only been to the West a couple of times in the past decade.

He got the red-carpet treatment at Chirac's elegant Elysee Palace.

The two president's posed for several photo opportunities before retiring for their second round of talks.

For Assad, the trip is a chance to become more of a global player.

He, along with France, is seeking an alternative to United States mediation in the Mideast.

However, on emerging from the talks Hafez Assad, renowned for not speaking his mind publicly, had little to say.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"We do not say anything and reflect on it unless it is something new and something worthy of considering, on one condition that we strongly stand by the principles."
SUPER CAPTION: Hafez Assad, Syrian President

Jacques Chirac, however, was more outspoken and made clear the importance he places on Syria's role in the peace process.

SOUNDBITE: (French)
"We absolutely know there will be no peace in the region without active participation of Syria and therefore we would wish to associate our efforts, Syria and France, to reach our goal meaning a pacified Middle East with an eye on the future for its own development in serenity and security for all."
SUPER CAPTION: Jacques Chirac, French President

Chirac is also keen for France to have an important role in the peace process, partly to counter-balance the heavy weight of the United States.

France has special leverage with Syria, partly because the Arab
nation was once a French-mandated territory, from 1920-1946.

After leaving President Chirac at the Elysee Palace it was off to meet French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin for a working lunch.

It's the last day of Hafez Assad's official visit to France, but he's staying on a bit longer for personal business.

Assad is expected to make another trip to the West in autumn, to meet Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

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