French President Nicolas Sarkozy (C), his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad (L), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (C-back) share a laugh following their meeting in Damascus on September 4, 2008. Assad said the four-way summit in Damascus aimed to lay the groundwork for direct negotiations between Syria and Israel. Sarkozy is the first Western head of state to visit Syria since the murder of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri in a 2005 bombing in Beirut that was widely blamed on Damascus. Getty Images logo Getty Images 15 months ago

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (C), his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad (L), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (C-back) share a laugh following their meeting in Damascus on September 4, 2008. Assad said the four-way summit in Damascus aimed to lay the groundwork for direct negotiations between Syria and Israel. Sarkozy is the first Western head of state to visit Syria since the murder of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri in a 2005 bombing in Beirut that was widely blamed on Damascus.

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  1. ROME - NOVEMBER 17: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during the second day of the World Summit for Food Security 2009 organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on November 17, 2009 in Rome, Italy. The summit runs from November 16 until November 18 and will see the participation of more than 60 heads of state and government.
  2. ROME - NOVEMBER 17: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan attends the second day of the World Summit for Food Security 2009 organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on November 17, 2009 in Rome, Italy. The summit runs from November 16 until November 18 and will see the participation of more than 60 heads of state and government.
  3. ROME - NOVEMBER 17: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during the second day of the World Summit for Food Security 2009 organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on November 17, 2009 in Rome, Italy. The summit runs from November 16 until November 18 and will see the participation of more than 60 heads of state and government.
  4. ROME - NOVEMBER 17: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during the second day of the World Summit for Food Security 2009 organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on November 17, 2009 in Rome, Italy. The summit runs from November 16 until November 18 and will see the participation of more than 60 heads of state and government.
  5. ROME - NOVEMBER 17: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during the second day of the World Summit for Food Security 2009 organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on November 17, 2009 in Rome, Italy. The summit runs from November 16 until November 18 and will see the participation of more than 60 heads of state and government.
  6. ROME - NOVEMBER 17: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan attends the second day of the World Summit for Food Security 2009 organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on November 17, 2009 in Rome, Italy. The summit runs from November 16 until November 18 and will see the participation of more than 60 heads of state and government.
  7. Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, and his host Croatian President Stipe Mesic pose before before convening for talks in the Presidential palace in Zagreb, on October 28. 2009. Assad arrived on a two-day visit.
  8. Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, and his host Croatian President Stipe Mesic pose for a photo before convening for talks in the Presidential palace in Zagreb, on October 28. 2009. Assad arrived on a two-day visit.
  9. Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, and his host Croatian President Stipe Mesic inspect the guard of honour during an arrival ceremony at the Presidential palace in Zagreb, on October 28. 2009. Assad arrived on a two-day visit.
  10. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia offers Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) a legion of honour, in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  11. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the exchange a legion of honour, at the al-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  12. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) meets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the al-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  13. PARIS - NOVEMBER 11: In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on November 11, 2009 in Paris, France. Netanyahu was invited to visit France by Sarkozy on his return from his trip to America.
  14. PARIS - NOVEMBER 11: In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on November 11, 2009 in Paris, France. Netanyahu was invited to visit France by Sarkozy on his return from his trip to America.
  15. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) tastes a piece of cheese as he visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.
  16. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.

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