Above: Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez in Paris (Photo: OP)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez has arrived in Paris to begin a tour of European nations.

Fernandez came to the French capital from Rome, where he delivered a speech on volatility in food prices organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Fernandez arrived with First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández (the country’s Vice President-Elect) and an accompanying delegation.

He was received by Dominican Republic Ambassador to France Laura Faxas, and the country’s representative to UNESCO, Rosa Hernández de Grullón.

This weekend, Fernandez has a series of meetings scheduled, including one with former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

on Monday, he will meet with UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, before traveling to Brussels for talks with the European Parliament.