FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EURO-GULF FORUM, HOSTED BY SAUDI ARABIA. HE AFFIRMED THAT THE FORUM WILL PROVIDE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER DEEPEN SAUDI-FRENCH RELATIONS AS WELL AS THE TIES BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ARAB GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC). IN A MESSAGE READ ON HIS BEHALF BY FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA CHARLES-HENRI d'ARAGON, THE FRENCH PRESIDENT LAUDED THE SAUDI INITIATIVE FOR CONVENING THE FORUM IN RIYADH AS WELL AS THE SAUDI ROLE IN ENHANCING GULF-EUROPEAN DIALOGUE IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTIVES OF THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES, KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ. THE AMBASSADOR READ THE MESSAGE OF THE FRENCH PRESIDENT AT A DINNER PARTY HOSTED BY THE INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMATIC STUDIES IN COOPERATION WITH THE PARIS-BASED INSTITUTE OF POLITICAL STUDIES AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE AT THE COUNCIL OF THE SAUDI CHAMBERS HERE LAST NIGHT. THE FRENCH PRESIDENT HOPED THAT THE PILLARS OF SECURITY AND STABILITY WOULD BE ENHANCED IN THE REGION. --MORE
