TEHRAN A prominent French statesman is due to arrive here today early morning and an Iranian journalist believes the visit is important. Former French president Valery Giscard d'estaing will be here to meet with President Seyed Mohammad Khatami and Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi. The visit is important as Monsieur d'Estaing is considered as one of the most senior seasoned politicians in Europe, Iranian journalist, Kianoush Dorrani of AFP told the TEHRAN TIMES yesterday.

A political analyst Dorrani said, This is the first time a top politician from France is coming here after the triumph of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Monsieur d'Estaing is widely respected in Europe as he is considered a champion of European unity, Dorrani said. I'm sure the visit (of D'Estaing) will pave the way for better and deeper Iran-French relations in several areas of bilateral cooperation, Dorrani said.

D'Estaing was French president during 1974-81 as a leader of Union for Democracy in France, a rightist-centrist party. It was D'Estaing in whose presidency the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini went to Neauphele-le-Chateau, suburb of Paris and commanded his followers in Iran in their struggle against the Shah's regime. D'Estaing will address audience at Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) tomorrow.

On Monday he will go to Isfahan to see historical sites there. During his three-day visit, D'Estaing is to hold talks with high-ranking Iranian officials. D'Estaing, 72, was elected as the president of France in 1974 and was in office until 1981. He is currently a representative at Frence's National Parliament. Prior to his departure from Paris D'Estaing said that his visit to Iran was arranged long time ago but was delayed for one or the other reason.