Sarkozy Calls For A Viable Palestinian State

Tuesday February 23, 2010 11:28 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

During a Monday meeting with the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, stated that the objective of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians is a viable and independent Palestinian State within the 1967 border.

Nicolas Sarkozy - alssiyasy.com

He also added that there should be territorial exchange in certain areas to achieve this goal.

Sarkozy said that he is in favor of a viable Palestinian state but was also cautious about recognizing a state without set borders.

During a press conference with Abbas, the French President said that his country always supported the creation of a viable Palestinian state that can provide hope and a real future to millions of Palestinians.

French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, stated over the weekend that some countries must recognize a Palestinian state before its borders are set. He said that this should be done to create a momentum for restarting the stalled peace process.

But Sarkozy did not repeat that same call, and stated that the statement of Kouchner came as one of the ideas he is thinking of in an effort to ensure the resumption of peace talks.

The French President said that his country wants the establishment of a Palestinian state with clear borders.

He said that a Palestinian State must be established in the borders of 1967 along with territorial exchange.

The ongoing construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, the construction of the annexation wall and the ongoing violations and demolishing of Palestinian homes, especially in East Jerusalem, are hindering any progress in peace talks and are unilaterally determining the future of the region.

The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah said that due to Israel’s rejection to recognize the legitimate Palestinian rights, it would seek the backing of the UN Security Council for a contiguous, independent Palestinian State in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.

international | peace process | news report saed at imemc dot org