▁been ▁histor ically ▁close ▁with ▁the ▁Arab ▁world , ▁starting ▁with ▁the ▁Mag h reb ▁region , ▁and ▁the ▁Near ▁East , ▁but ▁France ' s ▁closest ▁relations ▁are ▁considered ▁to ▁be ▁with ▁Al ger ia , ▁where ▁it ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁col ony ▁of ▁France ▁for ▁around ▁ 2 0 0 ▁years , ▁with ▁a ▁blo ody ▁independence ▁war , ▁relations ▁today ▁are ▁good , ▁France ▁is ▁considered ▁to ▁have ▁the ▁Cord ial est ▁relations ▁with ▁All ▁Arab ▁states , ▁with ▁a ▁large ▁Arab ▁population ▁in ▁France ▁counting ▁to ▁around ▁ 1 ▁million ▁Arab s , ▁France ▁holds ▁the ▁Big gest ▁Arab ▁Cultural ▁center ▁outside ▁the ▁Arab ▁league . ▁ ▁Al ger ia ▁ ▁Leb anon ▁ ▁Since ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁Leb an ese ▁civil ▁war , ▁France ▁has ▁played ▁an ▁active ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁reconst ruction ▁of ▁Leb anon . ▁The ▁H ex agon ▁is ▁the ▁leading ▁invest or ▁in ▁the ▁Country ▁of ▁C ed ers . ▁ ▁Lib ya ▁ ▁Lib ya ▁developed ▁particularly ▁close ▁relations ▁with ▁France ▁after ▁the ▁June ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁War , ▁when ▁France ▁relax ed ▁its ▁arms ▁embargo ▁on ▁non front - line ▁Middle ▁East ▁combat ants ▁and ▁agreed ▁to ▁sell ▁weapons ▁to ▁the ▁Lib y ans . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁Lib ya ▁and ▁France ▁signed ▁an ▁agreement ▁where by ▁Lib ya ▁ex changed ▁a ▁guaranteed ▁oil ▁supply ▁for ▁technical ▁assistance ▁and ▁financial ▁co operation . ▁ ▁Latin ▁America ▁▁ ▁Rel ations ▁between ▁the ▁Arab ▁League ▁and ▁the ▁Union