JEDDAH, SEPT 3, SPA -- CROWN PRINCE SULTAN BIN ABDULAZIZ, THE DEPUTY PREMIER, DEFENSE AND AVIATION MINISTER AND INSPECTOR GENERAL, HELD HERE TODAY A MEETING WITH VISITING FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER MICHELE ALLIOT-MARIE. SPEAKING ON THE OCCASION, PRINCE SULTAN HIGHLIGHTED THE EXISTING FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN SAUDI ARABIA AND FRANCE. HE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THE WARM WELCOME GIVEN TO HIM BY THE FRENCH OFFICIALS DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO FRANCE. PRINCE SULTAN SAID THE HISTORICAL MEETING WHICH HAD EARLIER TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN LATE KING FAISAL AND LATE FRENCH PRESIDENT CHARLES DE GAULLE CONSTITUTED THE MAJOR PILLAR FOR THE SAUDI-FRENCH COOPERATION.--MORE www.spa.gov.sa/386832