French President Jacques Chirac on Friday held telephone talks
with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, urging him to resume
dialogue with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said a statement
issued by the French presidential office.
Chirac backed the efforts Abbas had made a commitment to, toward
forming a unity government under the 1993 Oslo peace accords, while
calling for Israel to lift blockades on Palestinians, said the
statement.
During the talks, the French president briefed Olmert on
France's position regarding issues surrounding the resumption of
the Middle East peace process and the promotion of mutual trust
between Israel and the Palestinians, it added.
Their talks also touched upon the Lebanon issue and the
all-around implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701,
aimed at halting the Israel-Lebanon hostilities, the statement
said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2006)
