France confirmed Monday that President Jacques Chirac was to receive in Paris Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas, who has began a European tour.

Their meeting on Friday will spotlight Hamas's rise to power following its victory in a January election and the ways to move ahead with the stalled Middle East peace process, according to Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat.

Abbas kicked off his European tour on Monday in Vienna, which holds currently the rotating presidency of the European Union. He is to talk with Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Abbas will address the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France and Brussels, where he will hold talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and meet EU foreign policy head Javier Solana late Wednesday and hold talks with Belgian officials the following day.

Source: Xinhua