French President to arrive in UAE on Monday

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France will begin on Monday a two-day state visit to the United Arab Emirates. President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan will review with Sarkozy, relations of friendship and cooperation between UAE and France in various fields. They will also exchange opinions on a number of issues and topics of joint interest.

President Nicolas Sarkozy’s chief diplomatic advisor Jean-David Levitte has stressed the importance of the strategic partnership between UAE and France and said that the unique relations present a living model that meticulously integrate the preservation of traditions with modernity.

Announcing the visit by the French President to UAE at a press conference on Friday in Paris, Levitte said that Sarkozy will hold talks with President his Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and General H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

“The talks will centre on a number of important issues, including the future of bilateral relations, regional issues such as the Middle East peace process, the future of Afghanistan and Somalia and the Iranian nuclear dossier,” Levitte said.

He added that President Sarkozy attaches great importance to his visit to the UAE, given its special relations with France.

“The UAE is a model for a country that pursues modernism, yet, it maintains its heritage and traditions. If any one of you visited Abu Dhabi during the early days of independence, he will find a different city now. Additionally, the leadership of the UAE has a wise vision for the long term development of the country in all fields with unprecedented growth rates”.

Levitte noted that France, which did not enjoy any historical presence in the UAE, is now a major strategic partner of that country. He said relations between the two countries extend across four strategic sectors; defence, cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy, culture and education.

“In the economic fields, the UAE has the world’s fifth largest energy reserves. Still, it has adopted a wise strategy to preserve this wealth by setting up atomic reactors for production of energy for local consumption instead of crude energy. The first reactor will begin operation in 2017”.

He revealed that bids will be invited for building reactors in July. They are scheduled to be awarded in September. “France will face a stiff competition from other bidders,” Levitte said.?

Shedding light on cultural relations between UAE and France Levitte said that the strong cooperation between the two countries in this field is unparalleled. The Paris-Sorbonne University-Abu Dhabi will start awarding diplomas for the first time from October this year. Projects are on the anvil to set up partnership between UAE and France in the field of school level education with the participation of Louis-le-Grand of Paris; Levitte said.