Chirac to see Bush in Washington in early 2005

PARIS, Dec 22 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac is to travel to Washington in early 2005 to see US President George W. Bush at the latter's invitation, Chirac's office said Wednesday. The meeting will take place on "a date as soon as possible," once the respective leader's aides have worked out the details, the Elysee palace said.

It may take place before or after Bush's trip to Europe which is to start February 22, French officials said, adding that the two presidents would also hold talks on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels on that date.

The Middle East peace process was likely to figure high on the leaders' discussions.

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier last week flew to Washington to talk over the issue with outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Powell's designated successor, national security advisor Condoleezza Rice.

France has been pushing for an international conference on the conflict to revive the moribund Middle East peace process in the wake of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced during a trip to Israel Wednesday that such a conference would be held in London next year at a date yet to be set.