ABU DHABI // Nicolas Sarkozy said on Sunday that France would stand behind the UAE in times of danger and help ensure the stability of the region, as he prepared to inaugurate his country's first military base in the Gulf. The French president was scheduled to arrive this evening in the capital, where he was expected to be the guest of honour at a state banquet. Tomorrow he will open "Camp Peace", which will house 500 French troops, including personnel from the French navy, air force and army. France's first new base on foreign soil in 50 years will include facilities at Mina Zayed port and Al Dhafra Air Force Base. Mr Sarkozy is expected to make appearances at both venues at his visit. "Be assured that France is on your side in the event your security is at risk," Mr Sarkozy told WAM, the state news agency. "Through the permanent military presence, France firmly pledges to back its Emirati friends, as the proverb says: '[A] friend in need is a friend indeed'." Mr Sarkozy also assured other Gulf states that France would stand to their defence, too. "France, through this base ? is ready to shoulder its responsibilities to ensure the stability in the region," he said. "This region is strategic for the world balance." The base, which Mr Sarkozy said was built at the request of the UAE, is expected to provide logistical support and resupply naval vessels in the region. At a ceremony at the Emirates Palace hotel, Emirati and French children are expected to hand a letter to both Mr Sarkozy and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The letter will be put in a capsule that will eventually find a home at the Abu Dhabi Louvre on Saadiyat Island. He is also expected to deliver a speech that could further outline the multifaceted UAE-French ties. Mr Sarkozy is scheduled to meet Sheikh Khalifa, the President of the UAE, and Sheikh Mohammed. Mr Sarkozy said his talks with Sheikh Khalifa would touch on a number of issues pertaining to bilateral co-operation and international issues, including the global financial crisis, the situation in the Middle East and Iran. Although the two leaders were expected to discuss the UAE's efforts to develop a peaceful nuclear programme and plans to buy 60 Rafale jet fighters, no deals are likely to be signed. However, there may be an agreement to upgrade the 1995 military co-operation deal. France signed a nuclear co-operation deal with the UAE when Mr Sarkozy last visited the capital in January 2008. A similar deal has been signed with the US. Companies from the three nations will officially bid to construct the nuclear plants as of July and a government decision is expected by the end of the year. This visit, however, is not expected to tip the scale in France's favour. "I don't think the UAE Government is going to change their mind or their calculation" as a result of the visit, said Mustafa Alani, director of the Gulf Research Centre's security and terrorism department. He said that although the French president may try to encourage UAE leaders to grant the nuclear contract to French companies, the UAE would not "bend easily". "The UAE will be under more pressure from the French to adopt their equipment but the UAE has also other partners, including the US, Britain and Germany." The UAE has also been in discussions since last year to buy Dassault's Rafale advanced fighters. "The decision to buy Rafale jets is a technical and operational one, it has nothing to do with politics," said Major Gen Khalid Abdullah al Buainnain, the former chief of the UAE Air Force and president of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis. He said the Rafale would be a "natural replacement"the UAE's current fleet of Mirage-200-9 fighter jet because "it's one of the best four fighter jets in the world". In his interview with WAM, Mr Sarkozy reiterated that peace in the Middle East was not likely without Palestinian statehood. "There is a reality on the ground that no one would think seriously about peace in the Middle East without giving the Palestinians a state," he said, adding that a Palestinian state was also vital for guaranteeing the security of Israel. "He who knows me is aware I'm a true friend of Israel and will not compromise the right of Israel to live in peace and security." He stressed that Europe and the US would only support reconciliation between the Palestinians and the Israelis if they had shown "genuine and sincere will". "Peace is an option - no one could choose an alternative for peace." On Iran's nuclear activities, the French president said that it was "threatening world security". "My position was clear and I still persist that owning of Iran of nuclear weapons is not acceptable." Since 2003, France has been engaged in talks with Iran as part of the "five plus one" group - the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany. Last June, Iran said it would continue uranium enrichment, rejecting an a revised package of incentives put forward by the five plus one group. The original package was delivered and rejected in 2006. Mr Sarkozy lauded the efforts by the US president, Barack Obama, to engage Iran. "The option of the new US administration to join us in serious dialogue is good news, because it will boost our efforts to convince the Iranian authorities ... to respond to the demands of the international community. "I'm convinced that this approach is the best option and may be the only one to settle this issue amicably. The Iranian authorities have to choose now: either they return to the international community fold or face increasing isolation." Mr Sarkozy also highlighted the need for international co-operation on combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. He added that military operations should be accompanied by efforts to support stability in Somalia. Since France started its anti-piracy operations in September 2007, its troops had arrested 70 pirates. In April alone, French forces captured 11 suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia. Also in April, French commandos freed four French nationals whose yacht had been hijacked by pirates. One hostage and two Somali pirates died in the operation. Last year, French naval forces seized 57 pirates. mhabboush@thenational.ae
