| Submit your comments on this article |
| Middle East |
| France advises Arafat not to take part in elections |
| 2002-07-09 |
| In office only two months, France's new foreign minister Dominique de Villepin has returned from his second trip to the Middle East - which last week took him to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan - and says that if there's one message he's conveyed to his hosts , it's that France once again wants to play a key role in the region... Which is why during his trip to Ramallah two weeks ago, the French foreign minister was charged with explaining to President Yasser Arafat that it would be best for him to step down and make way for younger blood... Given the sensitivity of the request being made of Mr Arafat, and although the Palestinian President has indicated he would be running for re-election nevertheless - "if Chirac can do so, then why can't I?," he was heard to quip to a journalist - French diplomats are confident that between now and January they'll be able to prevail upon him to gracefully step down. Now that's interesting. Just a day or two ago they were backing Yasser. Wonder what's changed? |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |