Kouchner: Livni to lead peace process
Visiting French FM tells Foreign Ministry conference he's certain Kadima chairwoman will succeed in forming new coalition. Adds: France determined to fight rising anti-Semitism
"I believe in Tzipi Livni, trust her and am certain she will succeed in forming a new government," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said of his Israeli counterpart on Sunday.
Livni was recently elected new chairwoman of the ruling Kadima party in place of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and was subsequently tasked by President Shimon Peres to form a new coalition.
Speaking at the Foreign Affairs Ministry's conference on policy and strategy, the French FM went on to say that "It is not simple to work with your minister; it is even rather difficult. (Livni) is courageous and talented, and it is her beliefs that will determine the course of the peace negotiations.
"I believe that her integrity and faith will allow her to discuss the much needed (establishment of a) Palestinian state alongside Israel, as she had already done at the Paris conference," Kouchner said.
'Can't ignore Iranian threat'
Referring to the surge in anti-Semitism in France, Kouchner said "we will not let the anti-Semitism that has reared its ugly head in France and Europe in general to continue rising. We are determined to fight terrorism and anti-Semitism on the international front.
The French FM added that Israel had the right to "live without the fear of rockets falling in Sderot and Ashkelon and without the fear of car bomb explosions and (terror attacks on) buses."
As for the Iran, Kouchner said he has repeatedly condemned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel rhetoric.
"We are rallying against his (Ahmadinejad's) comments in France and in the European community. The Iranian nuclear threat is far too dangerous for us to ignore it," he said.
Livni and Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki also addressed the conference.
