Today's Date:

Report of the meeting between Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, (excerpts)

President Chirac welcomed President Mahmoud Abbas to France. During the meeting, he again highlighted (…) the importance of relaunching the political process and of helping the Palestinian people in their daily lives. (…)

President Chirac confirmed France's support for the idea of a national unity government and considered the Mecca agreement to be the first step towards taking on board the Quartet's conditions.

President Chirac indicated to President Abbas that France would continue her efforts to get the European Union to contribute to the process on both the political and cooperation fronts.

In this respect, M. Jacques Chirac mentioned the forthcoming March European Council and voiced the hope that the new national unity government formed on the basis of the Mecca agreement would be able to pave the way for new relations of cooperation.

Finally, President Chirac highlighted the importance of the release of Israeli soldier Shalit, for his family, for Israel, and also as a gesture vis-à-vis the international community./.