France, Kuwait Seek Rafale Deal

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- France and Kuwait have resumed high-level defense talks
meant to finalize the sheikdom's purchase of an advanced Western
fighter-jet.
Officials said Defense Minister Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah intends to
meet his French counterpart, Herve Morin, in late February 2009 to discuss
the sheikdom's procurement of the Rafale fighter-jet. France has offered to
sell Kuwait up to 28 Rafale warplanes in a deal estimated at $3 billion.
"The defense ministers [of France and Kuwait] are in deep discussions,"
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.