French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner
Photo: Reuters
French FM: Dubai hit proves need for peace
Bernard Kouchner says he believes assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh stresses need for Palestinian state
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Friday that the Dubai assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh emphasizes the need for peace in the Middle East.
In an interview with French magazine Le Journal du Dimanche, Kouchner said that the case proved the need to establish a Palestinian state as soon as possible.
Regional Politics
In meeting with French prime minister, Syrian president says Europe must take up active role in regional talks, stresses peace process must be based on international resolutions
"We can consider the timely announcement of a Palestinian state, and immediate recognition by the international community, even before the negotiations on borders," he added.
Addressing the use of bogus foreign passports, Kouchner said Paris "condemns the targeted killings and use of forgery. Officers have not usurped the identity of one of our citizens, unlike the British, but used a false French passport and a fake name."
Israeli charge d'affaires Sammy Ravel was summoned by the French Foreign Ministry following the Dubai assassination "to explain the use of a fake French passport." in the operation. Nevertheless, neither France nor any other western nation has fingered Israel as being behind the assassination.
