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Sarkozy welcomes Assad in Paris Sarkozy welcomes Assad in Paris
(20 minutes later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has welcomed his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, to the Elysee Palace.French President Nicolas Sarkozy has welcomed his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, to the Elysee Palace.
The meeting marks a return to the world stage for the Syrian president, after France accused Damascus of involvement in ex-Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri's death.The meeting marks a return to the world stage for the Syrian president, after France accused Damascus of involvement in ex-Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri's death.
The talks are already producing results, with Mr Sarkozy saying he will visit Syria before mid-September. The talks are already producing results, with Mr Sarkozy saying Syria and Lebanon had agreed to open embassies in each others' capitals.
Syria used the meeting to signal its determination to re-establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon. Diplomatic ties between the two nations ceased after Hariri's killing in 2005.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Mr Assad also said he wanted France and the US to contribute to peace efforts between Syria and Israel.In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Mr Assad also said he wanted France and the US to contribute to peace efforts between Syria and Israel.
But, according to Reuters news agency, Mr Sarkozy added that conditions were not yet right for direct Syria-Israel talks.
Mr Sarkozy also said he would visit Syria for talks before mid-September.
'Boost''Boost'
Mr Sarkozy will later host a meeting between Mr Assad and Lebanon's newly-elected president, Michel Suleiman, a day after the formation of a new unity government in Beirut. The French president will later host a meeting between Mr Assad and Lebanon's newly-elected president, Michel Suleiman, a day after the formation of a new unity government in Beirut.
There is hope that Lebanon and Syria could use the occasion to resume diplomatic ties, which ceased after Rafiq Hariri's death in 2005.
After meeting Mr Assad, Mr Sarkozy said he welcomed Syria's determination to establish ties with Lebanon.
Earlier, Mr Suleiman had told reporters that Beirut also wanted an "exchange of ambassadors and diplomatic relations" with Damascus.
The Paris visit is a big boost for Mr Assad, helping Syria to break out of its diplomatic isolation, says BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs.The Paris visit is a big boost for Mr Assad, helping Syria to break out of its diplomatic isolation, says BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs.
But critics say Mr Assad's reception in Paris is too much of a reward, when there are still serious question marks over human rights in Syria and its alleged role in the killing of Hariri.But critics say Mr Assad's reception in Paris is too much of a reward, when there are still serious question marks over human rights in Syria and its alleged role in the killing of Hariri.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr Sarkozy held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who will be a key player in the French leader's plan for a union of Mediterranean states, our correspondent adds.Earlier on Saturday, Mr Sarkozy held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who will be a key player in the French leader's plan for a union of Mediterranean states, our correspondent adds.
Mr Sarkozy is hosting a summit on Sunday to launch this union, which will be attended by 43 leaders of countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.Mr Sarkozy is hosting a summit on Sunday to launch this union, which will be attended by 43 leaders of countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Only Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is expected to boycott it.Only Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is expected to boycott it.
According to our correspondent, critics are dismissing the new union as lacking substance, but French officials say it comes at a significant moment.According to our correspondent, critics are dismissing the new union as lacking substance, but French officials say it comes at a significant moment.