French president saddened by dying ME peace process

French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday called upon the US to "rapidly take a strong initiative to attempt to relaunch the peace process."

In a statement to the French daily "Le Monde" issued on Thursday, President Chirac said the US, which was for a long time "reticent" on European participation in the peace process, has become more open today in this regard.

Chirac said France will embark on a new European initiative that will support US efforts, adding that the US has to take a daring initiative and that Europe has to help it with its ideas, as happened during the Iraqi crisis.

He said, "I am deeply saddened, and the word is appropriate, to see that this process is being killed." He called for a common foreign policy for the European Union's 15 member states, adding when such a stand is maintained France will continue initiatives in the context of the EU, thereby it will be stronger.