Qatar on Monday signed a contract of 6.3 billion euros for the acquisition of 24 aircraft of French fighter Rafale, with President Francois Hollande who then joined Riyadh to attend a summit of the Gulf on Tuesday.
Along with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Mr Hollande said that the contract is a proof of the “reliability” and “credibility” of his country in the region.
“Good choice” (” Good choice “), launched the French president in English at the Qatar General Ahmad al-Malki, who supervised the negotiations before signing the contract with the CEO of Dassault Aviation, maker of the Rafale, Eric Trappier.
Mr. Hollande assured that there was no “counterparties” French this transaction, denying press information on obtaining by Qatar of additional air traffic rights to France.
A separate agreement was also signed in Doha by General Malki and the CEO of the European manufacturer MBDA missiles, Antoine Bouvier, which provides arming the fighter.
Another agreement, confidential and from state to state, on the training of drivers and 36 one hundred mechanics, but also dealing with other issues such as the intelligence officer training was initialed in stride by the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Qatari counterpart.
This is the third contract of sale of the Rafale abroad, after Egypt (24 aircraft) and India (36)
-. Guest of honor –
Mr. Trappier explained that the agreement was “good omen” for the conclusion of other contracts in the Middle East “because everyone will see the Rafale capabilities.”
Mr. Le Drian was also Sunday the United Arab Emirates where he discussed the Rafale.
After signing the agreement, Mr. Hollande met with the Emir of Qatar multiple regional crises, starting with the conflict in Yemen that will be the agenda of the summit Tuesday the six Sunni monarchies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman).
Mr. Holland will be the guest of honor at the summit will also discuss the controversial nuclear program of Iran, large Shiite rival monarchies of the GCC and the fight against jihadist Islamic State group.
Never a Western head of state had attended a summit of the bloc since its inception in 1981. “We are now a major partner in the region”, welcomed a senior French official
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A Riyadh, the French president on Monday evening was to get to the heart of the crises in the region with a meeting with Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled his country in March because of the war and sought refuge in Saudi Arabia, a country bordering Yemen.
Mr. Holland was also to meet with the king and Salman Tuesday morning with former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
In an attempt to prevent a Shiite rebellion, backed by Iran, to take the control of the whole of Yemen, a coalition of nine Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia carries out air raids on rebel positions since late March.
Only the Oman among the GCC members does not participate in the coalition.
Monday, Ryad, whose air campaign stalled and been the subject of growing criticism, announced truces possible point in some areas of Yemen to permit the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population.
Host GCC, French President burns somewhat polite to his US counterpart Barack Obama, who will receive the leaders of this group in mid-May in the United United to try to reassure them on the framework agreement concluded in early April with Iran on nuclear power.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected him to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Saudi kingdom is very suspicious of Iran and fears that this country does not encourage nuclear proliferation in the region.
According to the French Presidency, the visit of M . Holland in Riyadh will lead to the signing of a Franco-Saudi statement on a “road map” political, economic, strategic and military
04/05/2015 7:59:58 p.m.. – Ryad (AFP) – By Hervé ASQUIN – AFP © 2015
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