Jacques Chirac is going to Algeria for the first full state visit by a French president since the country won independence in 1962 following a brutal war. President Chirac - who served as a second lieutenant in the French army during the campaign - arrives on Sunday for a three-day visit. He is bringing with him a delegation of leading businesspeople, including the heads of corporate giants TotalFinaElf, Alstom and Airbus, as well as French cultural figures. He is also due to discuss the situation in the Middle East and terrorism with his hosts. However the main impact of the visit is likely to be symbolic.