French minister discusses military links with Saudi

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

RIYADH (AFP) — French Defence Minister Herve Morin held "very positive" talks with Saudi officials on bilateral military links and selling French armaments to the oil-rich kingdom, an aide said Tuesday.

The talks with King Abdullah and defence officials were "very positive," covering "the structure of (defence) cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France," the aide told AFP, requesting anonymity.

They also covered the proposed sale to Saudi Arabia of FREMM frigates and Fennec, Cougar and MH90 transport helicopters, said the aide, a diplomatic adviser to Morin.

He said Paris was putting in place a new state firm, ODAS, to handle arms contracts with Saudi Arabia.

The firm will succeed the now defunct Sofresa, an arms export company which served as a...