By KUNA,
Paris : President Nicolas Sarkozy has invited Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to attend the French “Bastille Day” national celebrations on July 14, a further sign of warming ties between the two countries.
Al-Assad will already be in Paris on July 13 at the invitation of Sarkozy but to attend a summit of Mediterranean leaders.
The French leader has invited all participants at that summit, including Al-Assad, to take part in the national day even, diplomatic sources confirmed.
It is not a special invitation for the Syrian but one that has been issued to around 40 leaders expected to come to Paris to attend the Mediterranean talks.
Nonetheless, relations between France and Syria have warmed considerably over the past month and since the signing of the Doha accords that led to an initial settlement of the Lebanese political crisis.
France welcomed the positive role played by Syria and said that relations would further improve if thing kept going in that direction.
Indeed, earlier this week Syria’s Culture Minister became the first member of the government to come on an “official” visit to France for some time, yet another indication that the two countries are anxious to enhance ties.