Egypt, France to up military cooperation

CAIRO, June 30 (UPI) -- French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said Thursday France will sign an agreement with Egypt to beef up military cooperation between the countries.

Speaking after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Alliot-Marie said "the main aim is to give a boost to relations between us, especially that Paris and Cairo want to raise military ties to the level of their excellent bilateral relations."

Alliot-Marie, on the first official visit to Egypt a French Defense minister since 1997, refrained from giving details about the agreement and whether it provides for selling advanced military technology to Egypt.

She said her talks with Egyptian officials covered the situation in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria as well as the Arab-Israeli conflict in addition to bilateral ties.

"France and Egypt share the same interests and vision in combating terrorism and illegal immigration and in settling conflicts in Africa," she said.