Paris denies readiness to recognize Palestinian state

The French Foreign Ministry has asserted that an article published by the Israeli daily Haaretz on France's readiness to recognize a Palestinian state is "groundless."

Assistant spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry said, "There is no change in the French stand nor in that of its partners in the European Union." Earlier Haaretz said that Paris is ready to recognize a Palestinian state immediately after its announcement at the end of the provisional period of Palestinian self-rule.

"We reiterate our constant position which says that the Palestinian people has a right to self-determination, and we recognize their legitimate aspirations to become a nation. However, these positions pertain to the future, and are part of the final status negotiations. These negotiations have not yet begun, and we wish for them to start," the spokeswoman said.

The Israeli paper attributed its statements to high-ranking sources in Paris in that President Chirac and Premier Jospin have taken the decision secretly. The French spokeswoman said the story was "mostly based on assumptions."