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Malaysian PM says France’s Chirac ’understands’
Mahathir Mohammad has thanked French President Jacques Chirac for blocking a European Union declaration condemning his comments on Jews. Chirac, backed by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, stopped the EU from ending a summit Friday with a harshly worded statement deploring Mahathir’s speech. EU leaders then compromised by having Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, the summit host, criticize Mahathir at his closing news conference.

A French diplomat, who asked not to be named, said while Chirac disagreed with Mahathir’s strident views, he argued that an EU summit declaration "would not have been appropriate." The French presidency denies supporting the Malaysian prime minister. But Malaysian newspapers said Mahathir had expressed his gratitude to Chirac for his "understanding" of the speech he made at the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference, the world’s largest Muslim grouping, in Malaysia last Thursday. Mahathir said he had feared Muslims would be more angered by the speech, which was also critical of Muslims. "I never thought the Europeans would be against me," the New Sunday Times quoted him as saying. "I can’t understand them. I’m glad that Chirac at least understands. I would like to thank him publicly." Mahathir said that "anybody who reads the whole speech through will understand what I said," the Sunday Star reported. Mahathir’s comments caused a storm of controversy, with the United States, Canada, Germany, Britain, Australia and Israel branding the remarks outrageous.
Posted by: tipper. 2003-10-19
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=20094