Chirac speaks: "Our cooperation is exemplary in all areas: cultural, scientific and economic. Israel and France also decided in 2002 to increase the cooperation further, which was expressed in the establishment of the `committee of senior officials" that in 2003 proposed a series of steps that will be implemented one by one. We have been successful, as is witnessed - I am convinced - by Sharon's visit to Paris. This visit joins the very successful official visit by President Moshe Katsav in February 2004, and the many meetings between the foreign ministers of the two countries in recent months. "The reality, then, is one of intensive political dialogue and of constant and consistent improvement in our cultural and economic relations as well - an improvement that reflects friendship and trust and rests upon the strong belief on the part of France and the French that Israel is its great friend." "