Relatd: Chirac eases German concern about French nuclear policy

French President Jacques Chirac (R)and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a press conference in the French historic town of Versailles in southwest Paris, Jan 24. (Xinhua/Reuters photo)

    PARIS, Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Monday in the framework of informal Franco-German summits called "Blaesheim process" in the French historic town of Versailles in southwest Paris to try to close their views on many issues, especially the European institution.

    It is the 25th Blaesheim meetings, which, taking place every six to eight weeks grouping only French president, German chancellor and the foreign ministers of the two countries, was instituted on Jan. 31, 2001 in the French village of Blaesheim in the hope of seeking close bilateral ties and reinforced political cohesion.

    Merkel inaugurated with Chirac an exhibition called "Splendours of the Court of Saxony" at the 17th-century palace of Versailles, former residence of French kings.

    In the presence of French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the two leader then held talks at the historic prefecture -- or governor's office -- which served as headquarters for the German emperor Wilhelm II after the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.

French President Jacques Chirac (L) welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the historic city of Versailles, near Paris January 23, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters photo)

    According to the French presidency, their talks would be devoted to the preparation work of the two major EU meetings of the coming months: the economic and social council in March, and the summit in June where there will be a global discussion on enlargement and the constitution.

    Considerable uncertainty hangs over the fate of the EU constitutional treaty, which was rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands last year but approved by the German parliament and 12 other countries.

    Chirac would try to bring down value added tax for the hotel and restaurant trade to 5.5 percent, one of Chirac's 2007 election promise and also an idea vigorously opposed by Berlin. They would also discuss new steps in Iran's nuclear issue. Enditem