France to Israel: Golan is Syrian land; Russia, China discuss peace

France has reiterated its stand calling for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Golan Heights as well as a commitment to the UN Security Council resolutions concerning the Middle East question.

The statements came in response to a draft resolution making its way through the Israeli Knesset that would make withdrawal from any occupied territory, including the Golan, less likely by requiring approval of such a withdrawal by both Knesset vote and popular referendum.

Assistant spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry Yves Doutriaux said the Golan is a Syrian territory and Israel should withdraw from it according to international law and restore it to Syria. Doutriaux added that President Chirac and Premier Jospin stressed this French position during the recent visit of President al-Assad to France.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov stressed on Thursday that he discussed with Chinese officials the suspended Middle East peace process.

In a press conference, Primakov was quoted as saying that China and Russia are seeking to establish a strategic partnership for the next century. He added that this partnership is not directed against other states. He added that he also discussed arrangements for convening the unofficial presidential meeting between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the Russian President Boris Yeltsin in Moscow in Autumn.