Mohammed bin Zayed holds talks with French President, Prime Minister

Paris - His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, held talks on Friday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy over ways of expanding bilateral cooperation and advancing the distinguished relations in light of the close friendship and mutual interests.
The talks, which took place at the Élysée Palace in the presence of UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, covered a wide-range of regional and international issues of common concern including latest developments in Libya and other countries in the region as well as current events in the Middle East.
The two sides expressed their satisfaction at the course of progress in bilateral bonds thanks to the significant and reciprocal care lent by the friendly Emirati and French leaderships to the enhancement of these ties in order to elevate them to the highest levels.
The UAE and France voiced their resolve to pursue their joint cooperation and boost international efforts aimed at achieving just and lasting peace in the Middle East, join hands to bolster foundations of stability and peaceful co-existence regionally and internationally and make peaceful solutions reign supreme in a manner that preserves unity, stability and security of countries in the region.
Earlier, Sheikh Mohammed received at his residence here French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and reviewed with him relations of strategic cooperation and strong friendship.
The meeting, which also attended by Sheikh Abdullah, explored means of further strengthening these ties driven by mutual will and confidence and longstanding historic bonds.
Stances adopted by UAE and France towards the latest regional and international events and topics of mutual interest were also touched in the meeting. The two sides said they were looking forward for opening up more avenues of joint cooperation in all domains in a way that reflects the depth of friendship and serves interests of the two friendly countries and peoples. The two meetings were attended by members of the delegation accompanying Sheikh Mohammed including Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, Major General Isa Al Mazrouie, Deputy Chief of Staff of UAE Armed Forces, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouie, Undersecretary of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and Mohammed Mir Al Raisi, UAE Ambassador to France.
Present from the French side were Jean-David Levitte, Diplomatic Adviser to French President, Nicolas Galey, Adviser to French President for Middle East and North Africa and Alain Azouaou, French Ambassador to the UAE. - Emirates News Agency, WAM