France wants EU seat at Mideast peace talks
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France wants the European Union to have a seat at the table during next week's start of US-backed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Washington.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says it would be "too bad" if the EU were locked out - noting the bloc's political involvement in the region and its role as a top contributor of financial aid to the Palestinians. Kouchner said in a speech Friday to French ambassadors that he has written a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressing his concern. (AP)
