Date : 01/10/2012
PARIS, Oct 1 (KUNA) -- French officials said Monday that talks between
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius Tuesday with the Organisation for the Islamic
Conference (OIC) leadership would permit the building of stronger ties between
the two sides.
OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is expected in Paris to lead the
Organisation's delegation and meet with Fabius and other senior Foreign
Ministry officials.
"This meeting will allow for a reinforcing of the existing relations
between France and the OIC, following, notably, the appointment in July of our
Consul General in Jeddah as special envoy to the Organisation," a French
statement said Monday.
Officials said all major regional questions would be addressed, including
the situation in Syria and Mali and the Middle East peace process.
France said that it wants to show its "willingness...to intensify the
political dialogue and the cooperative relations with the OCI and its
Secretary-General, given the major role they play in the Islamic world."
The OIC chief will also likely bring up, on his side, concern about the
publication of insulting videos and cartoons that wounded Muslims worldwide
and provoked violent reactions in some areas.
French satirical weekly "Charlie Hebdo" was involved in the affair after it
published what many Muslims consider insulting and blasphemous cartoons
against Islam. (end)
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