French PM tells Peres: Israel's security a top concern
President Shimon Peres meets with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon who tells him that France sees eye-to-eye with Israel on Iranian nuclear program
Israel's security is at the heart of France's concerns, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told President Shimon Peres on Tuesday during the latter's official State visit to France. According to Fillon, France sees eye-to-eye with Israel regarding the Iranian nuclear program and vehemently opposes Iranian nuclear proliferation.
In his opening remarks, the French prime minister referred to the recent terrorist attack in Jerusalem that left eight dead and offered France's condolences to the victims' families.
President Peres remarked that he was touched by the warm reception he had received and said that France and Israel's relationship was deep and historic.
In reference to ongoing negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, Peres said that Israel is genuine in its attempts to reach peace but the most difficult problem is the divisiveness in the Palestinian camp. The Palestinians don't have a stable government and they don't have an army to maintain law and order, Peres said.
Israel has a supreme interest in strengthening the rule of (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas), the rule of moderates who want peace, he said.
The Israeli leader began the second day of his official State visit with a meeting with news editors from the biggest newspapers and television stations in France. Peres was mainly queried on Israel's position vis-à-vis Iran, the progress of peace talks with the Palestinian Authority and his personal position on the boycott of some Arab nations that were supposed to participate in an international book fair in Paris.
According to Peres, he scorns the ignorance and fear of freedom of the press that allows for the recognition of different cultures and ethnicities besides Islam. The burning of books, the threatening of writers and the ban on freedom of expression goes against his beliefs and the French and democratic concept of freedom, he said.
The president took part in a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe during which the Champs-Élysées was closed to traffic and hundreds of French and Israeli flags were raised in the area. Hundred of former soldiers who were part of underground movements fighting against the Nazis during World War II also took part in the fanfare.
