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French foreign minister rectifies Iran comment

Updated: 03/Aug/2006 19:07

French foreihn minister Philippe douste-Blazy with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni

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PARIS (EJP)--- Following complaints from the Jewish community, French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy has retracted a controversial statement where he claimed Iran “played a stabilising role” in the Middle-East.

Speaking on the Jewish Community Radio station on Wednesday, Douste-Blazy said Iran had “a part of responsibility in the current conflict” between Israel and Hezbollah and that it had “to help pacify the region”.

The minister’s original comments were made during a trip to Beirut Monday where he met with Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

Rephrasing his statement, Douste-Blazy said that he in fact meant Iran had “to prove it could have a positive role, otherwise it would have to face Security Council sanctions.”

“Iran has a part of responsibility in the current conflict in the region and that’s why it can play a role in finding a solution. It must contribute to pacify the region. The region must be stabilised,” said Douste-Blazy.

“I told the Iranian foreign minister: ’Seize the hand held out to you by the international community. Otherwise you would fail to retie trust relations with the international community and there will be defiance followed by sanctions decided upon by the Security Council’,” added Douste-Blazy.

Jewish communal concern

The minister was asked to address the Jewish media after being widely criticised by community leaders for his earlier statement on the positive role Iran had in the Middle-East.

Douste-Blazy also contacted the Jewish umbrella organisation CRIF to rectify his earlier statement and adjust it to the stand adopted by President Jacques Chirac and the EU.

Head of CRIF Roger Cukierman said on Tuesday he was informed that Philippe Douste-Blazy was due to rephrase his statement.

The foreign ministry issued a first rectified statement on Tuesday saying Iran “could have a stabilising role” rather than it “did have a stabilising role”.

In his Wednesday statement Douste-Blazy said Iran “had to help pacify” the situation.

The minister refused to qualify Hezbollah as a terror group.

“This is a time for action not for such classifications,” he said.

Shocked

Jewish organisations and political leaders were shocked by Douste-Blazy’s original statement

The CRIF, the Vigilance Bureau against anti-Semitism, UPJF, France-Israel Alliance as well as centre political leader François Bayrou have criticised Douste-Blazy’s statement on Iran’s stabilising role.

“Mr Douste-Blazy’s declaration is stupefying,” wrote Roger Cukierman, head of the Jewish umbrella organisation CRIF in a press release. “Everyone knows Iran is the one who triggered the current crisis via Hezbollah. Saying Teheran has a stabilising role is a crime against truth.”

CRIF and other organisations such as the Vigilance Bureau against anti-Semitism also fear it would lead to a spate of assaults against Jews and community centres.

“We are already getting calls from Jews got insulted by Muslims who invoke the situation in the Lebanon,” said head of BVCA Sammy Ghozlan. “The police has strengthened the protection of synagogues. We fear Douste-Blazy’s words would worsen things.”