http://www.english.hadhramaut.info French FM arrives in Yemen for talks [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 21/2/2009] France's Foreign minister Bernard Kouchner arrived Saturday in Yemen with the latest developments in the Middle east and African Horn on the agenda. On his visit, Kouchner will meet with President Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand him a letter form his French counterpart Nicola Sarkozy regarding the bilateral relationship and means to promote mutual cooperation between Yemen and France. Kouchner will also meet with Yemeni senior officials to discuss crucial regional issues topped by the situation in the Palestinian Gaza strip after the recent Israel's offensive. The talks will focus on the French role in resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict and reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The meetings will also deal with piracy, a recently soaring phenomenon off the coast of Somalia as well as the EU efforts to tackle it. Foreign minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi has said that French President Sarkozy is expected to arrive in Yemen but the timing of the visit has not been identified yet. President Sarkozy's visit will aim to exchange views over the latest developments in the region in addition to discussing issues related cooperation between the two countries in various fields.