Chirac for EU role in strengthening Middle East peace
French President Jacques Chirac has expressed his hope that Syrian-Israeli peace talks will achieve success. He said that the European Union has to take tangible measures in order to consolidate the peace process in the Middle East.
In a reception he held in Paris on Tuesday for members of diplomatic corps on the occasion of the new year, Chirac added, "I hope the Syrian-Israeli negotiations will be a success and negotiations between Lebanon and Israel will be resumed very soon."
President Chirac stressed that peace in the Middle East will be made and that Europe can help, basically, in creating a new spirit through a genuine solidarity and sharing of responsibility.
On the other hand, Chirac, whose country presides over the EU during the second half of this year stated that there is a need for further solidarity among the industrial and poor states.
