ISLAMABAD, Feb 10: President General Pervez Musharraf, in a telephone call to French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday, urged him to help Pakistan gain enhanced market access to France and Europe.

President Musharraf said that President Chirac's intercession in this regard would be very productive.

President Chirac assured President Musharraf that France had favourably assessed Pakistan's legitimate needs to increase exports to France and Europe and would be supportive of efforts in this regard.

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and explored ways and means to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation between Pakistan and France as well as Pakistan and the European Union.

The two leaders also reiterated their desire to strengthen bilateral relations in all spheres. They reviewed latest developments in the Middle East and expressed the hope that the cease-fire announced by Palestine and Israel would endure to create necessary space for final settlement of the Palestine issue. They also exchanged views on the situation in Iraq.-APP