French FM : support for Palestinian in UN is 'coherent'

On the eve of the UN General Assembly vote on upgrading the Palestinian status at the United Nations, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Wednesday that his government's support for the Palestinian demand reflects "the coherence of France's position for many years. "For years and years, no matter what the government, France has taken the same position," Fabius said on "France Inter" radio here. He noted that since 1982, and the key speech of President Francois Mitterrand at the Israeli Knesset, this has been the policy of France. This policy also led, he remarked, to the support by President Nicolas Sarkozy last year for admitting the Palestinian delegation as a full member of UNESCO. He further added that current French leader Francois Hollande "had said in his (election) campaign that we would recognize a Palestinian State," which is a long-standing position in Paris. "Coherence was absolutely necessary" in deciding "to vote yes" in the UN, Fabius added. But he warned that the "immediate effect" could be an increase in tensions because of the Israeli objections to the Palestinian move. The United States and several European nations are also opposed to granting the Palestinians "non-member" status, which is an upgrade from the "observer" status they currently hold in New York. "It is possible that the Israelis have an attitude of sanctions vis-a-vis Mahmud Abbas because we are in an (Israeli) electoral climate and because of the Americans etc." But the chief French diplomat explained that we must see "the historic dimension" of the UN vote so that Israel can live in peace and the Palestinians can have a land. "For this, there must be two states," Fabius said. He indicated that France would also be asking for a resumption of negotiations between the protagonists, "without conditions and without delay." "It is paradoxical, but in the end the real recognition of Palestine will be the moment when Israel, itself, fully recognises Palestine," the Foreign Minister insisted. The UN General Assembly is expected to massively approve the Palestinian demand, but the European Union is set to split on vote, with about 17 of the 27 members voting in favour.