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13:19 GMT
PARIS, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius will host US
Secretary-of-State John Kerry on February 27 for his first visit to France
since being appointed, the French Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday.
"The talks will allow for a discussion of all bilateral and transatlantic
relations as well as the major international subjects," a statement said here.
High on the agenda for talks will be the January 10 French intervention
against terrorist groups in Mali, an operation that the US strongly approved
and supported with military transport capability and also with intelligence.
French officials said that the US and France "are cooperating very closely"
on the Mali issue. France has now deployed about 4,000 troops in the African
country and is pushing for a UN peace-keeping force to take up the relay and
allow for a troop drawdown and eventual withdrawal.
Fabius and Kerry will also discuss "the prospects for restarting the Middle
East peace process" amid growing British and French urgency that something
must be done on the US front to avoid the talks completely failing and being
declared dead.
Syria will also be discussed as will the Iranian nuclear programme as talks
get underway again between the international community and Iran and the
controversial nuclear programme being run by Tehran.
Also on the agenda is the ongoing "stabilisation" of the Afghan situation,
as NATO and other foreign troops prepare to withdraw from that country in 2014.
France has already withdrawn all combat troops from Afghanistan but has
left 1,500 advisors, trainers and logistical personnel.
A French statement said of Kerry's visit that relations were "deep and
excellent" on bilateral questions, as much concerning economic matters as in
terms of cultural, university and scientific exchanges.
Kerry is likely to meet separately with President Francois Hollande,
although this had not yet been officially announced. (end)
jk.hb
KUNA 201619 Feb 13NNNN