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Last update - 21:41 25/05/2008 Sarkozy to FM: Hamas talks were mistake that won't happen again By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Reuters Tags: Hamas, diplomacy, France French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday that a meeting between a French diplomat and senior Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip is a mistake that will not happen again. During a meeting in Paris, the president reassured Livni that France has no intention of entering into any kind of dialogue with the Islamist organization. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner confirmed a report in the French daily Le Figaro last week quoting a retired ambassador who it said had met senior Hamas officials about a month ago. Advertisement "It would be difficult to deny it since the man who is in touch with them has spoken," Kouchner told Europe 1 radio. "Having contacts is necessary. We had some before the invasion [takeover by Hamas] of Gaza," he added. Kouchner's ministry said the talks between former ambassador Yves Aubin de la Messuziere and Hamas were a private initiative. "The trip to Gaza by Mr Yves Aubin de la Messuziere ... took place on an individual basis, as is the case for personalities from many countries, and recently President Carter," spokeswoman Pascale Andreani told reporters. Le Figaro said de la Messuziere met Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Mahmoud Zahar. He told the newspaper that the Hamas officials had repeated an offer made by Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal of a long-term accommodation with Israel in its pre-1967 borders. "They said they were prepared to stop suicide attacks and what surprised me was that the Islamist leaders recognize the legitimacy of Mahmoud Abbas," he said. The U.S. State Department criticized France's decision to have contacts with Hamas, although it did not echo U.S. President George W. Bush's recent suggestion that negotiating with such groups is tantamount to appeasement. "We don't think it is wise or appropriate," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters in Washington. The United States classifies Hamas as a terrorist group. Meanwhile, Israel played down France's announcement of contacts with Hamas. "We have been in touch with the highest levels of the French government and we have received assurances that there is no change in the position of France vis-a-vis Hamas," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said. "France continues to adhere to the conditions of the Quartet." The Quartet of Middle East mediators, made up of the European Union, the United States, the United Nations and Russia, demands that Hamas renounce violence, recognize Israel, and abide by previous agreements, as a precondition for diplomatic contacts. "They have yet to meet those conditions and certainly our position with respect to contacts with Hamas has not changed," McCormack at the U.S. State Department said. U.S.-brokered peace talks between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have made little tangible progress, and few observers expect them to reach a deal by the end of the year as planned. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri confirmed that leaders of the group had met a French representative and envoys from other European countries, and said that it showed Europe realized it was it was "the wrong policy to isolate and boycott Hamas". Kouchner played down the talks between France and Hamas. "They are not relations. They are contacts," he said. "We have to be able to speak to each other if we want to play a role, if we want our emissaries to go to Gaza, firstly. But the real discussion is between Palestinians. We have always said that." Hamas has offered a six-month truce in Gaza if Israel were to lift an embargo on the territory and reopen border crossings, an offer Suleiman presented to Israeli officials last week. Related articles: Hamas tells Egypt it is ready to discuss truce with Israel, Shalit deal Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Shampoo' meets 'Munich' New Adam Sandler film stars Mossad hit man turned hairdresser. Rehab (live) Report: Singer Amy Winehouse is to undergo drug rehab in Israel.   1.   Israel pays at the end no matter what price it pays 12:54  |  Dennie 19/05/08   2.   THE HARD WAY OR THE EASY ONE 13:08  |  indrajaya 19/05/08   3.   Is Hamas loosing the war against Israel ? 13:23  |  Jean Van Daem 19/05/08   4.   breaking news! breaking news! breaking news! 13:40  |  ivo 19/05/08   5.   Haaretz` censors 13:47  |  ivo 19/05/08   6.   Hamas 14:02  |  Hildar2@aol.com 19/05/08   7.   I thought France changed its skin, but I was very wrong, very 15:20  |  Albert 19/05/08   8.   Indrajaya, a hypocrit 15:34  |  Sam C 19/05/08   9.   Diplomatic arts. 15:36  |  K 19/05/08   10.   two alternatives for israel 16:29  |  aconstant 19/05/08   11.   Good news for Shalit ?! 17:19  |  Jerome Boulanger 19/05/08   12.   France is doing this with the encouragement of Israel 17:29  |  France 19/05/08   13.   Shows you that France`s and the Quartet`s word is worth nothing 17:46  |  McQueen 19/05/08   14.   Hamas should accept jewish state 18:31  |  Tulip 19/05/08   15.   Ivo, are you okay? 18:33  |  Tulip 19/05/08   16.   Boycott French leaders. No more French Role 18:55  |  Liliane 19/05/08   17.   France cannot be trusted as usual 18:56  |  Elly 19/05/08   18.   Wrong hints.... 19:15  |  Keops 19/05/08   19.   IT`S FUNNY TO SEE PEOPLE IN THIS FORUM 19:45  |  indrajaya 19/05/08   20.   Hypocrites all over 20:01  |  El-Birawi 19/05/08   21.   Good move. 21:16  |  Cynic 19/05/08   22.   France is almost certainly . . . 21:22  |  Jackson 19/05/08   23.   Negotiations by Proxy 21:22  |  gearoid 19/05/08   24.   My Friend Ivo Again 21:52  |  Panther Jet 19/05/08   25.   indrajaya,its funny to see you and other morons like you,come 22:06  |  comedian 19/05/08   26.   #16 Liliane 22:49  |  ballistic 19/05/08   27.   Congratulations ballistic! 23:11  |  Stranger 19/05/08   28.   kouchner should be dismissed????? 23:16  |  michel 19/05/08   29.   More jews chose to live in France (in the EU) than anywhere else 23:55  |  WHY? 19/05/08   30.   Panther Jet #24: peace in our lifetime - 00:27  |  ivo 20/05/08   31.   Sarkozy should 02:23  |  JP 26/05/08   32.   Quite amusing ... 02:29  |  Axel 26/05/08   33.   FRANCE`S BUSH 03:46  |  Arik Silverman 26/05/08   34.   Israeli intimidating overflights of French Peacekeepers... 03:48  |  Maureen Ann 26/05/08   35.   #34 Maureen Ann 20:52  |  * BEN JABO 26/05/08

Read & React Report: Carter says Israel has 150 nuclear weapons Responses: 319 U.S. professor gives Israeli prize money to Palestinian university Responses: 147 Palestinians reject Israeli offer to hand over 91.5% of W. Bank Responses: 148 Anaysis / Price of quiet in Lebanon is Hezbollah in power Responses: 45 Shin Bet chief: Hamas threat increasing Responses: 37 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guest: Jeremy Ben-Ami, the co-founder of J Street Explaining Hagee's Holocaust remarks Poll: Peace between Israel & Syria? Should American Jews Embrace Living Double Lives? Rosner's Guests: can "decisive victory" against guerilla achieved? More Headlines 21:08 Sources: Israel, Hezbollah strike prisoner swap deal 20:04 MK Eldad: Anyone ceding Israeli territory should be sentenced to death 18:31 MI: Syria continuing to arm Hezbollah despite peace moves with Israel 20:05 Carter says Israel has 150 nuclear weapons 16:36 Hamas: Israel must open Rafah crossing for truce talks to succeed 17:06 21-year-old confesses to murdering his father in Jerusalem home 21:12 Defense officials: anti-rocket system to be ready for tests in 2008 19:45 Saudi King extends invite to Jews for interfaith meet 19:44 Murdered teen Tair Rada's parents to sue state for NIS 2.5 million for negligence 13:43 Palestinians reject Israeli offer to hand over 91.5% of W. Bank 18:29 Olmert: Only delusional people think we'll keep post-'67 borders 13:45 U.S. prof. gives Israeli prize money to Palestinian university 15:34 Red Cross urges Israel to allow Palestinian prisoners family visits Previous Editions Select Day 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may

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