His Majesty King Abdullah II on Friday began a brief visit to France to hold talks with French President Jacques Chirac on His Majesty's relentless and tireless efforts exerted to relaunch the stalled Mideast peace process and to end Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.

His Majesty is accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Hashem, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarwneh, the King's Security Adviser, Director of General Intelligence Department and Director of the National Security Council Saad Kheir, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Marwan Muasher.

This is the first leg of the Monarch's four-country whirlwind, during which he will hold talks with Western and Arab leaders.