French president promises to support Romania's bid for EU membership

French President Jacques Chirac congratulated Tuesday Romania's new president Traian Basescu, promising to back Romania's EU bid in 2007.

Chirac said in a message "I'd like to assure France's desire to maintain its support for the integration of Romania into Europe,

and increase bilateral cooperation to achieve the best possible preparation for its EU membership in January 2007."

Chirac also hailed the new and fruitful collaboration perspective for the summit of French-speaking countries, which is to be held in 2006.

The 53-year-old Bucharest mayor of Romania's opposition " Justice and Truth Alliance" won the election on Sunday with 51.23

percent of the votes, while Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, the 54-year-old candidate of the ruling Social Democrats, gained 48.77

percent, the Central Electoral Bureau announced Monday.

Source: Xinhua