Chirac refused to postpone President al-Assad visit
Syria-France, Politics, 6/18/2001

The United Arab Emirates UAE daily al-Itihad said in its Sunday's issue that the French President Jacques Chirac informed a delegation represents the Jewish organizations in France his rejection to postpone or cancel the visit of the Syrian President Bashar al- Assad to France, stressing that this visit will be held at its set date on June 25th.

The paper added quoted well-informed French diplomatic sources that leaders of these Jewish organizations are intending to organize large demonstrations during President al-Assad's visit to France as an expressed of their opposition to this visit.

On the other hand, the delegation of the Jewish organizations asked to meet with the French Foreign minister Hubert Vedrine who is known for leading the trend which asks for a more effective European role in the Middle East.

However, the French foreign ministry announced that Vedrine will be meeting on Monday with Robert Kokyman, the chairman of the executive council of the Jewish organizations in France.

Worthy mentioning that the Jewish organizations had organized a campaign in the French mass media against al-Assad's visit to Paris reached the extend of calling on the French President Jacques Chirac not to shake hand with President Bashar al-Assad nor to sit with him at the same table. This demand was made in a ( paid for ) statement issued in the French daily ( Le Monde).

Previous Stories:
  On al-Assad's visit to France   (6/13/2001)
  Mayor of Paris to meet with President al-Assad   (6/12/2001)
  Al-Assad to visit France   (6/8/2001)

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