12/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - Before the opening of the Biarritz Summit, where Javier Solana will report on his mission to the Middle East, President Chirac had talks with Kofi Annan, also on a mission to the region, assuring him of his total backing for his efforts aimed at putting an end to the escalation of violence. France deplores all violence of this Wednesday on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, a press release stresses.