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) jk.sd KUNA 011446 Oct 12NNNN