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Visit to the Middle East
Interview given by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, to the Palestinian "Al Quds" newspaper, (excerpts) Jerusalem, September 13, 2007
( ) FRANCO-PALESTINIAN RELATIONS Q. What's your assessment of Franco-Palestinian relations at the moment? And how does the French government intend supporting President Mahmoud Abbas and his government?
THE MINISTER Franco-Palestinian relations are very good and I think they have developed over the past two years, last few months, particularly since the recent inter-Palestinian crisis between Fatah and Hamas. We immediately provided 15 million of budgetary aid. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is an outstanding leader, who is devoting all his efforts to the Palestinian cause. Moreover, the Palestinian party has received 400 million of aid this year through the European Union, a large part of this coming from France. ( ) INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE/NOVEMBER CONFERENCE Q. Will France play a role in the Middle East with the aim of creating an independent Palestinian State?
THE MINISTER Yes, that's our goal and I hope this State will be announced at the conference which will be held in November in the United States. I'll be having meetings with President Abbas and Salam Fayyad in New York in two weeks' time, on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly. ( ) ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS Q. Have you asked the Israelis to improve the Palestinians' living conditions?
THE MINISTER Yes. I've asked the Israelis to remove the military roadblocks, to allow the inhabitants to resume their work in Israel and improve living conditions. Their response was that they're moving in the right direction and they said they would release prisoners, particularly from Gaza./. Embassy of France in the United States - September 17, 2007
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