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Preliminary statement by M. Jacques CHIRAC, President of the Republic, before his meeting with Mr Ehud OLMERT, Prime Minister of Israel
Preliminary statement by M. Jacques CHIRAC, President of the Republic, before his meeting with Mr Ehud OLMERT, Prime Minister of Israel
Paris, 14 June 2006
Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome all the Israeli, French and foreign journalists. I am happy to extend a friendly greeting to the Prime Minister, Mr Olmert, on his first official visit to France. We're going to have talks, which I'm delighted about; these will essentially be marked by desire for a close dialogue on all the issues, be they bilateral, international or regional.
What the Israelis want clearly emerged from the last elections in Israel: peace and security. It's understandable, because this Israeli-Palestinian conflict really has gone on too long. Today it's essential to establish peace in that region, a peace which presupposes two States living side by side in security.
This objective – wholly desirable in every respect, particularly at a moment when there's a drift towards the resumption of violence – presupposes a resumption of the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. France and the European Union are wholly determined to make their contribution, doing the very utmost, to building this peace, a lasting peace enabling both parties to live together, peacefully.
It's in this spirit that I'm going to have the privilege of talking to the Prime Minister, to whom I extend, once again, the warmest of welcomes.
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