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French diplomat visits Gaza and says no Hamas talks
A French diplomat visited the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Wednesday but said France was sticking to international terms for any dialogue with the Islamist group.Alain Remy, the French consul-general in Jerusalem, said in Gaza that France will not talk to Hamas unless it recognises Israel, renounces violence and accepts existing Israeli-Palestinian interim peace accords. "This is a very simple position and we will stick to it," Remy said, echoing the policy of the Quartet of Middle East mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. Remy was one of the most senior European representatives to visit the Gaza Strip since Hamas Islamists seized the territory a year ago. Remy attended a reception at the French Cultural Center in Gaza as part of Bastille Day celebrations. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said despite Remy's comments "there were official contacts between Hamas and France". He said Remy's remarks were "for media consumption" only. Hamas opposes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's peace talks with Israel. Remy said an international force for the Gaza Strip remained an option in a peace settlement but stopped short of saying France would send soldiers into the territory. Posted by: Fred 2008-07-17 |
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