French Foreign Minster Bernard Kouchner is scheduled to arrive Sunday in the Kingdom with a message from French President Nicolas Sarkozy to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The message deals with France's efforts to consolidate security and stability in the Middle East, a French Foreign Ministry source said. Paris is keen on coordinating and consulting with the Kingdom, especially on issues pertaining to regional security, including the ongoing international efforts for the reconstruction of Gaza, the reactivation of the Arab peace initiative and the Iranian nuclear dossier, the source said. These issues and also upgrading of Saudi-French relations will be covered in Kouchner's talks with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al- Faisal. Kouchner's two-day visit – rescheduled from last month – also offers an opportunity to discuss the global financial crisis and preparations for G20 summit next month in London, the source said. Prince Saud Al-Faisal had visited France last month for lengthy talks with Kouchner. Italian stand Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told Saudi Gazette that his country and the European Union states are not averse to cooperating with a Palestinian government of national unity provided it accepts the decisions of the international Quartet – the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations – recognizes Israel, renounces violence, and respects international agreements. Frattini said it is the responsibility of the EU to urge and encourage Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu to take up the two-states solution of Israel and Palestine coexisting in peace, in line with UN Security Council resolutions for achieving peace in the Middle East. He said that one of the priorities of Italian diplomacy is to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is hoping that the Italian government, when hosting the G-14 meeting in July in Italy, can form a five-year Marshall Plan to give needed assistance to the Palestinian people.
