French President Jacques Chirac rejected Monday Israel's request to add Lebanon’s Hizbullah to the European Union's blacklist of “terror” groups. According to Israeli media reports, Chirac told Foreign Minister Shimon Peres that Hizbullah had a political-social branch that fulfills a "social mission in Lebanon."
Chirac said that it is not clear whether denouncing the organization would benefit Israel, because such a denouncement would strengthen Hizbullah and weaken the central government in Beirut.
Chirac and Peres agreed on the need to convene a regional summit or an international summit, suggested by Chirac, as soon as possible."President (Jacques) Chirac said that France was for having an international conference as soon as possible and has asked for our position," Peres told journalists after talks with the French leader.
"And I said we too support the establishment of a conference, either international or regional, to encourage the peace process," the minister said. When asked when it could take place, he said: "Quicker would be better."
Peres said he and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon were united in the search for a peaceful end to the conflict with the Palestinians.
"I am convinced that Sharon is completely for a peaceful solution. We all understand that there is no military solution," Peres told the news conference in Paris. "The fact is, we are working together...I'm not acting alone." "When it comes to our moral code and our politics, there are variations, nuances on the solutions," he added. "But the solution itself, in my opinion and the opinion of Mr Sharon, has to be a peaceful solution, not war. That's for sure."
Peres said the much-criticized Gaza strike - in which nine children and other civilians died as well as Hamas’ military wing chief - was not an attempt to stymie budding peace talks. "I don't think it was an attempt to stop the rapprochement. I think it was a mistake," he said of the strike.
Nasrallah
Meanwhile in Lebanon, Hizbullah said it was ready to discuss with international mediators, not through the media, any serious offer to exchange prisoners with Israel.
"Recently, the press broached a project to free an Israeli colonel in exchange for Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners, but it has not been proposed by the negotiators," said Hizbullah leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
"Negotiating through the media is not serious," Nasrallah said, who was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 13th anniversary of Israel's imprisonment of Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid, a Shiite cleric snatched from south Lebanon.
Sheikh Nasrallah said he has stood up to international pressure to release any information on the condition of Israelis imprisoned by Hizbullah to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
"America put pressure on Europe, which in turn put pressure on us, threatening to rank Hizbullah on its list of terrorist organisations," he stated.
Nasrallah accused Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of using the prisoners for his political objectives. He went on to say that when he feels it is proper, Sharon says that there has been progress in negotiations, "but he is not telling the truth." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
