almotamar.net - French President Nicolas Sarkozy extended invitation to President Ali /Abdullah Saleh of Yemen to visit France and accepted the invitation of President Saleh to visit Yemen and dates of the two invitations are to be fixed through diplomatic channels.

In a written message to President Saleh sent Monday Sarkozy affirmed France's keenness on strengthening relations of cooperation with Yemen in economic, military, industrial and cultural fields as well as exchange of expertise and information. The message contained an initiative for cooperation between Yemen, France and Djibouti and aspects of cooperation between Yemen and France in areas of security, combating terror and fighting sea piracy.

The French President affirmed his country's support for whatever that enhances security and stability in the region and pointed out the importance enhancing this cooperation in the upcoming period. He has also expressed his happiness over the progress realized in the project of discovery and exportation of liquefied gas by the Yemeni LNG and the French company TOTAL.

On his part President Saleh praised the level of bilateral relations and cooperation of the two countries in various fields, affirming Yemen's keenness on developing these relations and enhancing them in service of the two countries' common interests.

During his receiving of the member of the French parliament, the former minister of culture, President Saleh expressed his regret to statements attributed to the French President on not shaking hands with any head of state who does not recognize Israel.

President Saleh said such statements do not serve Arab-French relations and France's neutral stand regarding the pushing of the peace process in the region, expressing his hope and advice that France would correct such statements that arouse much insecurity about the French role in the region and the good position and reputation of France among peoples of the region.

The French MP Lang has earlier conveyed a written message from the French President to President Saleh today. President Saleh emphasized the importance of developing cooperation between Yemen and France especially in economic, cultural, security and military fields, calling the attention to the strategy that Yemen possesses in the region.

This subject is an object of discussion by a group of experts held over two days in a symposium Sana'a. The meeting was attended by the French ambassador to Yemen.