Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrived here today on his first visit to France in four years. Sharon was to meet with President Jacques Chirac at the Elysee Palace at around 12:30 p.m. (1030GMT). "Our relations with France are strengthening at every level, notably commercially," Sharon told France's Le Monde in an interview published Tuesday. The talks with Chirac were expected to focus on the pullout from Gaza and four small West Bank settlements in coming weeks, but in the newspaper interview, Sharon said he wanted to consult the French leader on issues including those relating to Iran, Syria and Lebanon. "I appreciate his understanding of the region," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press in his interview. --SP 1404 Local Time 1104 GMT
