French support has been there for long- Talabani

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Tuesday said that France has been supporting the Iraqi people for 40 years. “Sarkozy is cooperative with Iraq,” Talabani said during a Baghdad-based joint press conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who arrived in Iraq earlier today. Earlier today, Sarkozy arrived in Baghdad on a state visit and was received by Talabani and a number of Iraqi officials. Sarkozy’s visit to Baghdad is the first since he came into office in May 2007. On November 17, 2007, Talabani paid a visit to France, where he was received by Sarkozy at the Elysee, the French presidential palace. France had strong relations with Iraq before the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime. It was a main trade partner for Iraq, which supplied the former regime with weapons. It was one of the opponents of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. SS (P) 1