RIYADH, 7 March 2006 — French President Jacques Chirac wrapped up his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia yesterday by calling on Hamas leaders to soften their stance and reject violence. Chirac also categorically rejected sanctions against the Palestinian political group that swept elections in January.
Chirac told a news conference that he was in favor of giving time to any eventual Hamas-led government to perform and deliver.
Chirac called the elections “democratic,” but also called on Hamas to “recognize Israel and respect the will of the international community.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, who also announced that a Hamas delegation would visit Riyadh within the next few days, expressed similar views on giving Hamas time to govern.
“France and Saudi Arabia have identical views in terms of giving sufficient time to the Hamas-led government,” the minister said. “Saudi Arabia has put no conditions on Hamas. We are going to meet them and we hope that as a government, they will represent the interests of the Palestinian people.”
Prince Saud said it was important to see what the Palestinian leadership does in its new democratic role. Saudi Arabia has joined other Gulf states in refusing to cut aid to Hamas.
The Kingdom will be the second country to receive a Hamas delegation after one visited Russia at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.
“I do not see why we should impose sanctions when their brunt will be borne by the poor Palestinian people,” said Chirac.
The French president, however, urged Hamas to meet the demands of the Middle East Quartet — comprising the United States, European Union, the United Nations and Russia — to renounce violence as a means of achieving its goals.
Chirac, who held 75-minute talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah again on Sunday night, was hopeful of more cooperation in defense, oil, commercial and cultural sectors. The French president also pointed out that his country supported the Kingdom’s accession to the WTO.
In reply to the question about the much-publicized multibillion security deals involving the plan to sell French Rafale fighters and Miksa electronic border-monitoring systems to Saudi Arabia, Chirac said Saudi Arabia was studying the French proposals for “cooperation in defense and security”.
“All of this is taking place in an excellent climate,” he said.
According to reports, the proposed deal involves the purchase of 48 French fighters with an option for 48 more valued at $7.2 billion. The other potential deal involves the border-monitoring system under which French defense manufacturer Thales has proposed to supply 225 radars to the Kingdom in a staggered 12-year schedule. The sale includes a telecommunications network, reconnaissance aircraft and about 20 helicopters at a cost of $8.4 billion.
Referring to the growing commercial relations between Riyadh and Paris, Chirac said he was pleased by the contacts established between more than a dozen French businessmen accompanying him and their Saudi counterparts.
