French FM to visit US next week

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier will pay an official visit to the United States with Middle East peace process at the top of his agenda, local media reported on Saturday.

After talks with his Palestinian counterpart Nasser al-Qidwa, Barnier on Saturday said at a joint news conference that the "new dynamic" toward peace in the Mideast remains fragile and needs to be nurtured by "concrete gestures."

Barnier, who will meet with his US counterpart Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice next week, referred to the "same spirit" ina recent speech by US President George Bush in Brussels, saying that "for us, the peace which is possible and which is necessary in the Middle East remains at the head of the agenda in the discussions between Europeans and Americans."

According to French Foreign Ministry, Barnier will stay in the United States next week from July 7 to July 9.

Barnier hailed Israel's "courageous commitment" to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, but is waiting for "other gestures," notably related to security issues and the liberation of Palestinian prisoners. He also said that a resurgence of Jewish settlements might weaken the whole process.

The Palestinian foreign minister thanked France for its aid and assistance, underlining that "the French position and the European position on the illegal measures being taken in Jerusalem are very clear."

Source: Xinhua