(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) French President Francois Hollande on Monday received the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, for talks and an official dinner that will cover the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and also address bilateral economic ties, notably France's efforts to sell Qatar the high-tech "Rafale" fighter-bomber.
The Qatari leader was received at the Elysee Palace and already in the first round of talks they broached the Rafale sale and discussions are "ongoing" and will continue over dinner, a French diplomat who requested anonymity indicated.
France is hoping that Qatar will become the first foreign client for the Rafale, which has not been attractive to air forces around the world, in part because of its high price of close to USD 70 million.
India, however, is in advanced talks with Rafale manufacturer "Dassault Aviation" to acquire 126 of the French fighters for Euros 12 billion, but all but 18 of the planes would be made in India under licence.
Industry sources said that ideally France would like to sell six squadrons of the Rafale to Qatar, or 72 aircraft, but competing bids from the US and the Eurofighter might lead to the sale being cut into two lots with three squadrons or 36 planes for France and the other three reserved for either the US or Eurofighter.
Qatar currently has 12 obsolete Mirage-2005 planes it is seeking to replace with a more modern fleet.
The French source said that Paris was upbeat on the possibility of selling the Rafale to Qatar and officials here also hoped this would have "a knock-on effect" and encourage the UAE and other potential clients in the region. The UAE initially wanted to purchase 60 Rafales but has since gone cold on the deal.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss the tense situation in Iraq and the ongoing conflict in Syria and France is urging "moderating influence" from regional countries to try to avoid a collapse in Iraq, all the while pushing for reform of the current Iraqi government and the establishment of a National Unity executive that would answer some of the complaints of parties that say they have been excluded from power, notably moderate Sunni groups.
Neither Hollande nor Sheikh Tamim made statements after their initial meeting.
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