Riyadh: France is opposed to imposing sanctions on a Palestinian government formed by Hamas, President Jacques Chirac said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters on the final day of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Chirac said he was aware of the calls for cutting off aid to a Palestinian National Authority led by Hamas, owing to the militant group's refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
"I am hostile to sanctions in general, and in this case in particular, because I do not see why we would impose sanctions whose consequences would in reality be borne mainly by the Palestinian people," Chirac said.
The United States and the European Union have threatened to halt their annual aid to the Palestinian National Authority once a Hamas-led government is formed.
Chirac said Hamas has to come round to recognising Israel and stopping its militants from attacking the Jewish state because "one cannot recognise a government that uses violence as a policy."
"I hope that the discussions begun with Hamas by a certain number of parties can lead to this positive result," Chirac added, apparently referring to the recent Russian talks with Hamas leader.
"Speaking truthfully, I don't doubt it because Hamas must now assume the responsibilities of democracy," Chirac added.
On other Middle Eastern issues, Chirac reiterated that Syria must cooperate "totally" with a UN investigation into the assassination of Lebanese former prime minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005.
While Syria repeated on Sunday that it would cooperate fully with the inquiry, President Bashar Al Assad has so far indicated he is unwilling to be questioned by the UN investigators.
France "condemns all those who question cooperation with the commission of inquiry" into Hariri's killing, Chirac said.
The French leader also said he was "disappointed" by Iran's responses to international concerns over its nuclear programme.
"We are not giving up," Chirac said.
He said Iran should have "legitimate and normal" access to civilian nuclear technology, but it should also respect international controls to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
