French President Francois Hollande discussed the possibility of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) buying Rafale fighter jets during his visit to the Gulf country and said a deal hinged on price.
“We think it's a very good plane ... We have said so to our Emirati friends and they don't disagree,” Hollande told a news conference in Dubai during a day-long visit to the UAE.
“After that, it's a question of price,” Hollande added.
A French diplomatic source said last week that France would discuss a long-running possibility for the purchase of 60 Rafale fighters during Hollande's visit but said no contract would be signed during the trip.
Hollande arrived in the UAE capital on Tuesday to participate in the “Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week” being hosted by Masdar.
Hollande was received at the airport by Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade; Mohammad Mir Abdullah Al Raisi, UAE Ambassador to France; Alain Azouaou, the French Ambassador to the UAE, and members of the Embassy were also present.
The French president delivered a keynote speech at the official opening of “Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week” which coincides with the launch of the 'World Future Energy Summit' (WFES).
The visit underscores the interest of both countries to accelerate clean energy deployment and diversify the global energy mix.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has praised the visit by French President Francois Hollande to the UAE as “important and historic” and said it would further strengthen bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation.
Sheikh Mohammed made his remarks during talks with the visiting French President at Zabeel Palace, during which they exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments in light of political transformations in some countries in the region.
The talks also tackled the world economic and financial situation and how to employ good bonds existed between the UAE and France to build constructive strategic partnerships that realize aspirations of leaderships and peoples of the two friendly countries.
Hollande expressed his country’s sincere desire to set up a joint fund for investment projects in energy and tourism.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group; Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade; Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs; Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State, were present at the meeting.
Source: Reuters; Wam – Photo: Wam
