Visits

This visit, the first since the 1990s by a French President to the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the State of Kuwait, represented an opportunity to restore political relations between France and these three countries. During this friendly visit, the President, accompanied by Bernard Kouchner, Hervé Morin and Anne-Marie Idrac, expressed France’s interest in the region and the role it is willing to play to promotestability. France also hopes to strengthen ties with these countries in all areas - notably areas of the future such as energy and environmental protection -as part of an ambitious partnership. This visit follows and complements the President’s January 2008 tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The visit also provided an opportunity for France to reaffirm its commitment to the support of these countries.

Regarding the visit to Baghdad - the agreement for the withdrawal of American troops, the end of the mandate of the international force, and the January 31 provincial elections all show that Iraq has entered a new phase. Following these important steps for the recovery of the country’s sovereignty, the President’s visit demonstrates that France supports Iraq in its efforts for national reconciliation, the consolidation of democracy, and reconstruction.

This trip provided an opportunity to sign agreements and issue joint statements with the authorities of the three countries: notably, in Bahrain, an agreement regarding medical training, a military cooperation agreement, and a joint statement on cooperation on civilian nuclear energy; and in Kuwait, a joint statement by the heads of state on the strategic partnership between the two countries, and a joint statement by the economy ministers.