France calls for accelerating the establishment of a Palestinian state

In a new bid to reactivate the peace process, French Foreign Minister Michael Barnier has expressed hope for launching a joint dialogue among Europe, the United States, the United Nations and the Middle East countries for embarking on a joint action for settling the Arab Israeli conflict.

Barnier said that nobody could wait until the year 2009 as suggested by US President George Bush.

He said that the more we accelerate the establishment of this state the better the interests of all will be served including Israel and its security.

In a dialogue with the French Le Figaro newspaper, Barnier said that the Palestinian state could be established within interim frontiers according to the provisions of the Roadmap which calls for the establishment of the Palestinian state by the year 2005.

He stressed the importance of involving Jerusalem residents in the Palestinian elections which are scheduled for January next for selecting a new chairman of the Palestinian authority.

He said that France was working for settling this central conflict which shakes the stability of the Middle East region.

He suggested launching a joint move immediately after the death of President Yasser Arafat for re-launching the Roadmap as an initial step towards the establishment of a Palestinian state in parallel with maintaining the security of Israel and halting violence.

The French Foreign Minister said that there is a European unanimity on informing the United States that it was high time for turning a new leaf and moving ahead with Russia.

The United Nations and the region countries for finding a solution to the conflict.

On his part, the French presidency spokesman said that France's top priority in the Middle East is the political transformation of the Palestinian authority and good organization of the elections which will be held in January.

He told a news conference that Paris and London were agreed that the Israeli Palestinian issue is the pressing issue at the present time and that priority should be given to holding elections that are conducive to deepening democracy and guaranteeing the establishment of a Palestinian authority which enjoys full democratic legitimacy.

The French presidency spokesman said that the opportunity of Arafat's death must be exploited adding this issue was discussed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush last Friday.

He said that the idea of holding a conference on the Middle East was haunting Europe for a long time adding France was committed to this target.