French PM: Respect Arafat's last hours
2004-11-10 23:56
Paris - French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said on Wednesday he hoped people would show proper respect during the last hours of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, struggling for life in a French hospital.
Asked on television about confusion and conflicting reports this week about Arafat's condition, Raffarin said:
"France has played its role, both diplomatic and humanitarian, but it will not get involved in the play of interests you refer to."
Chirac said when Arafat was airlifted in a grave condition to France on October 29 that his country's tradition as a land of refuge had motivated its decision to admit ailing the Palestinian leader for treatment in a French hospital.
"It was natural that France, land of refuge, would not question the right of the president of the Palestinian Authority to come for medical treatment in our country," he said.
"I hope people will show respect for the last hours of a man approaching death, and I hope, too, that the circumstances will be of help to peacemakers rather than to warmongers," Raffarin said:
'Ensure these events serve peace'
"Let the peacemakers employ these few hours to try to construct what the world expects," he said in a reference to Middle East peace efforts.
"Let us respect a dying man, and ensure that these events serve peace," the prime minister continued:
"France always plays a role for peace. We are involved with our European partners in seeking Middle East peace which seems to me to be a priority for balance in the world."
