ON HER PART, THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER SAID CONTINUOUS MEETINGS BETWEEN THE SAUDI AND FRENCH OFFICIALS PROVIDE A CLEAR EVIDENCE FOR THE EXISTING CLOSE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. SHE NOTED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE EXCELLENT EXISTING PERSONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SAUDI AND FRENCH OFFICIALS, THE CURRENT INTERNATIONAL SITUATION MAKES SUCH MEETINGS AN ESSENTIAL MATTER. THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER POINTED OUT TO THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT COULD BE PLAYED BY SAUDI ARABIA AS REGARDS THE GLOBAL PEACE AND STABILITY.'FRANCE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ITS HISTORICAL TRADITIONS, IS DETERMINED ON POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTING TO ENHANCING THE PILLARS OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE WORLD', SHE SAID ADDING THAT 'THE DIFFERENCES WHICH WE NOTICE DUE TO OUR DISTANT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS, AND DUE TO THE DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ELEMENTS OF EACH OF THE TWO REGIONS COULD BECOME A SOURCE FOR ENRICHING OUR POLICIES'. SHE NOTED THAT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN LEBANON AND THE MIDDLE EAST MAKE IT NECESSARY TO WORK CLOSELY AND TO GO AHEAD ON THE PROPER DIRECTION, AND ADDED 'THIS IS THE MEANING OF THE EXISTING STRATEGIC COOPERATION BETWEEN US'. SHE SAID COOPERATION MAINLY DEPENDS ON THE POLITICAL MEETINGS AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS TO DISCUSS THE WORLD SITUATION.--MORE--MORE www.spa.gov.sa/386838