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Last update - 17:51 15/06/2008 French President Sarkozy's top advisers meet with Syrian leader By The Associated Press Tags: Mediterranean Union, Israel  Officials in Paris said Sunday that two top advisers to French President Nicolas Sarkozy have met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in the latest sign of a thaw in bilateral ties. The presidential Elysee palace said the talks were useful and constructive and focused largely on bilateral ties, Lebanon, Israeli-Syrian relations and an upcoming Union for the Mediterranean meeting. The meeting Sunday in Syria included Elysee secretary-general Claude Gueant and chief diplomatic aide Jean-David Levitte. Advertisement Last week Syrian Culture Minister Riad Agha visited Paris. The Qatar deal paved the way for the election of army chief Michel Suleiman as president. Sarkozy phoned Assad days later. "The talks were constructive, reflecting agreement on the need to reinforce Syrian-French relations and to continue efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region," the Syrian state news agency said. Sarkozy's office said in a statement his diplomatic adviser Jean-David Levitte, and chief of staff Claude Gueant, met Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem in Syria. It said the French envoys had given Assad "a message" without specifying its content. On Saturday, Sarkozy met with U.S. President George W. Bush in the United States and discussed the Israel-Syria talks. Sarkozy told reporters after the meeting that Syria must distance itself from Iran and its nuclear ambitions. Bush and Sarkozy have spoken with one voice on Syria, with Bush warned Assad to cease harboring terrorists and working closely with Iran. France's foreign minister said Friday he was uncomfortable the president of Syria has been invited to Paris's Bastille Day parade, even though such visits are necessary to keep dialogue open. "I'm not especially amused by Syrian President Bashar Assad's visit," Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Europe-1 radio. But he said Syria has made progress by resuming peace talks with Israel. "The visit doesn't leave me totally at ease, but this is what we have to do or else we'll maintain a state of tensions, difficulties and probably confrontations," Kouchner said. Assad has been invited to France in July along with other leaders of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, including Israel, to discuss President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan for a union of Mediterranean countries. While they are in France, they have also been invited to attend the July 14 Bastille Day parade. Meanwhile, Shalom Turgeman, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's chief diplomatic aide, told foreign diplomats on Saturday that talks which have so far been conducted via Turkish mediation may soon move to the next stage. Related articles: Olmert aides: Israel and Syria may hold direct talks soon Analysis / Arab world split on Israel presence at Med summit Bookmark to del.icio.us   Snoop Dogg in Israel American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan. Late date Scientists revive 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada.

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