France says 'non' to Iran's wine-free presidential dinner
President Hollande doesn't like dinner without wine.
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Hawke’s Bay
The barriers to trading with Iran may be dropping – but not that far.
A planned dinner meeting between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his French equivalent, François Hollande, is no longer on the Iranian’s history-making trip to Europe this weekend.
The formal meal in Paris was scrapped when the Iranians insisted it would be halal meat and wine-free in accordance with strict Islamic culinary protocols.
France’s RTL Radio reports an alcohol-free breakfast was offered as an alternative but this was rejected because it was considered too “cheap” by the Iranians.
Instead, the two leaders will now reportedly settle for a face-to-face chat next Tuesday.
Mr Rouhani's first official trip to Europe as president was meant to herald Iran’s economic coming out after a long period of international sanctions.
During his trip, Mr Rouhani will also meet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Pope Francis and Italian companies in Rome on Saturday.
He will then move on to France, where he is set to deliver a speech at Unesco and meet French officials and companies.
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Nevil Gibson
Fri, 13 Nov 2015
Fri, 13 Nov 2015
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France says 'non' to Iran's wine-free presidential dinner
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