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French President Nicolas Sarkozy. (Reuters)
Last update - 08:18 23/06/2008
Sarkozy: There won't be Middle East peace without Syria talks
By Barak Ravid and Haaretz Service
Tags: Carla Bruni, Nicolas Sarkozy 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Sunday, at the start of a three-day visit to Israel that Middle East peace cannot be achieved unless Damascus is brought to the negotiating table.

"If we do not talk with [Syrian President Bashar] Assad there will not
be peace in the Middle East," Sarkozy told President Shimon Peres during their meeting. Sarkozy is on his first presidential to Israel, accompanied by his spouse, Carla Bruni.
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The French president landed in Israel Sunday afternoon and was welcomed with a red-carpet reception, as Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert eagerly awaited him along with a full army band and honor guard.
Airport.

In his welcome speech, Olmert said, "In all my meeting with the French president I have encountered a deep understanding for the security needs of the State of Israel and the complex challenges it faces, as well as a personal, strong and unconditional commitment to Israel's security and the preservation of its qualitative edge in the region.

For his part, Sarkozy said that he "has always been and would always be a friend of Israel," though quickly turned his attention to the staggering peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians, saying: "I believe that the path to peace lies there before us, that the path to peace is not blocked. I have come to bring my support and that of France and the European Union, your partners in the negotiations.

"An agreement is possible, tomorrow, and that agreement would allow the two peoples to live side-by-side in peace and security," he added.

Peres welcomed the French leader by saying, "France has left an imprint on Israel's revival, a revival you recently referred to as 'one of the most significant events in the 20th century. rancescontribution to the foundation of the state of Israel did not stem from an opportunistic sentiment, but was sparked by the noblest of human values."

The first scheduled meeting for the French president was at the residence of President Peres in Jerusalem. Serious traffic congestion delayed his arrival by nearly an hour. Waiting for them, along with Peres, was a children's choir which sang "Hallelujah."

Sarkozy exhibited great warmth for the elderly statesman. "My dear Shimon, you are the roots of Israel and I thank you for hosting us," he said.

After signing the residence's official guest book, Sarkozy added: "Shimon, do you know that Carla now signs with a new name?" He was pointing out that Carla Bruni had adopted Sarkozy into her official family name.

During their meeting on diplomatic affairs, Sarkozy stressed that the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority should progress. "Those who will make peace in the end will be Israelis and Palestinians," the French president said.

"Only the Jewish people who have suffered so much know and understand how important it is for the Palestinians to establish a state of their own,"
Sarkozy added.

Referring to the settlements, Sarkozy said that, "I am a true friend of Israel and have never been ashamed of it, but it must be said loudly  the decision to build in East Jerusalem is not good for Israel."

On the question of Iran, Sarkozy described it as a matter of primary
importance for the entire world "and Israel is not alone in this matter. We will protect Israel and we will stand by your side."

Peres discussed Syria with Sarkozy and applauded him for inviting Syrian
President Bashar Assad to a meeting of the Mediterranean nations in Paris on July 13.

"I do not know if Assad and Olmert will sit at the same table but this is an important process," Peres said. "Tell Assad that he needs to learn from [former Egyptian president Anwar] Sadat and come to Jerusalem for face-to-face talks with Olmert."

Sarkozy agreed and said that, "I intend to mention this to Assad during our meeting the day before the conference." The French president noted that, "In addition to negotiations, there needs to be a change of mentality in Syria."

At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later Sunday evening in Jerusalem, Sarkozy said that Paris supports every initiative for peace in the Middle East and would never compromise on Israel's security.

France has promised Israel that it would put the brakes on its rapprochement with Syria until Damascus shows willing to distance itself from the axis of extremists, in particular Iran.

On the eve of Sarkozy's arrival, a 17-year-old French Jew was attacked in Paris, a violent assault condemned by the president and that Jewish organizations said was motivated by anti-Semitism.

Sarkozy, whose grandfather was a Greek Jew, will address the Knesset, on Monday, as the first French president to do so since Francois Mitterrand in 1982.

The Sarkozys will be accompanied by an entourage of seven cabinet ministers, 80 businessmen and women, 40 senior members of the French Jewish community and approximately 100 reporters.

Sarkozy's packed schedule features a meeting with Olmert and a festive dinner for the two couples at the prime minister's residence. On Monday, Sarzoky will visit Yad Vashem, accompanied by Peres, and will also address the Knesset plenum.

Sarkozy's schedule:

Sunday

17:30 State reception at Ben-Gurion Airport

19:00 Meeting with President Shimon Peres

20:45 Meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

Monday
10:10 Visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum

11:30 Address to the Knesset, following state reception

14:00 Lunch with Bruni at the Benedictine Monastery in Abu Ghosh

16:00 Meeting with Palestinian intellectuals in East Jerusalem

17:15 Meeting with the family of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit

19:00 Dinner at the residence of President Shimon Peres

Tuesday
10:15 Meeting with Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu

10:50 Presentation by Peres of the new electric car designed by Renault

12:00 Meeting in Bethlehem with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

15:45 Farewell ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport

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      1.   Electric cars 17:41  |  Eric 22/06/08
      2.   Yes, I think we`ve got the message 19:30  |  hollingsworth 22/06/08
      3.   `France has promised Israel`? 19:39  |  Paul Easton 22/06/08
      4.   Staggering peace efforts? 20:20  |  Mark 22/06/08
      5.   staggering 20:36  |  Mark 22/06/08
      6.   Eletric cars will beat the oil problem. 22:10  |  Pedro Caldeira 22/06/08
      7.   The French are good friends to have. 22:12  |  An American 22/06/08
      8.   re#7, the French are good friends 23:10  |  JTA 22/06/08
      9.   There is already Peace with Syria, no need to spoil it 00:27  |  Genuine Tosefta 23/06/08
      10.   NONSENSE 00:34  |  indrajaya 23/06/08
      11.   TO PEDRO CALDEIRA 01:18  |  indrajaya 23/06/08
      12.   #8, who says a fight is what`s needed here? There are lots of 01:22  |  ways to "fight" 23/06/08
      13.   The French pride themselves on being Lovers 01:24  |  Lovers are what 23/06/08
      14.   Bottom line: If Israel surrenders, Sarkozy stays 01:52  |  Jewish Jew 23/06/08
      15.   Indrajaya 01:59  |  Magnus K. 23/06/08
      16.   #10 Recovery of Stolen Lands 03:45  |  Brian 23/06/08
      17.   #7 03:47  |  Brian 23/06/08
      18.   To Indrajaya #11 04:06  |  Jonathan 23/06/08
      19.   `I have always been and will always be a friend of ... 04:50  |  Morris Valentine 23/06/08
      20.   Brian #13 05:25  |  oscar oswald 23/06/08
      21.   Israel 05:32  |  Israel 23/06/08
      22.   Sarkozy: THE PEACEMAKER 05:41  |  TJ Skylark 23/06/08
      23.   FRENCH PANDERING 05:46  |  B MEZRITCH 23/06/08
      24.   Paul dang 06:17  |  RC 23/06/08
      25.   Does Sarkozy understand the roots of the Israeli-Arab conflict? 08:25  |  Jean Van Daem 23/06/08
      26.   Sarkozy and Peace with Syria..... 08:57  |  Dagma 23/06/08
      27.   Sarkozy joins Bush in criticizing Israels expansion 09:08  |  Natallie Durson 23/06/08
      28.   DOn`t be so gullible NATALLIE 10:44  |  August 23/06/08
      29.   welcome president sarkozy 11:26  |  meir 23/06/08
      30.   # 16 brian 11:32  |  Axel 23/06/08
      31.   "my dear shimon" 11:33  |  meir 23/06/08
      32.   johnboy how about some logic 11:47  |  yaheskel 23/06/08
      33.   johnboy "so you admit its a gamble" 11:50  |  yaheskel 23/06/08
      34.   axel "what right does a jew have to live in america" 11:59  |  erwin honigstein 23/06/08
      35.   INDRAJAYA To you the whole world stolen,Dar Al Harb 12:12  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      36.   INDRAJAYA the fuel scientist.Unfortunately for you car makers 12:16  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      37.   next step to disaster from the fighting french 12:16  |  victor hardman 23/06/08
      38.   #27 nutullie still doesn know jordan is the palestinian state 12:19  |  victor hardman 23/06/08
      39.   PEACE loving" Assad refused the opportunity to adress the Knesset 12:19  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      40.   AXEL What right do YOU? 12:45  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      41.   PROBABLY HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE TOLD HIM ABOUT THIS 12:59  |  indrajaya 23/06/08
      42.   the QUOTE of the CENTURY! 13:07  |  eric 23/06/08
      43.   No to Dhimmitude.No To Kadima,No To Peres 13:37  |  Joseph.E 23/06/08
      44.   Dissolve Knesset Till 2 States Perfidy Out Of Agenda. 13:50  |  Joseph.E 23/06/08
      45.   Sarkozy 13:57  |  Hlda 23/06/08
      46.   # 38 to the nutt in belfast 13:58  |  eric 23/06/08
      47.   Sarkozy and Wahhabhist peace crap 14:29  |  Brod 23/06/08
      48.   for Morris Valentine #19 - Carla`s friend 15:15  |  S 23/06/08
      49.   Brod`s "God of Israel" 17:00  |  hollingsworth 23/06/08
      50.   And that comes from a friend of Israel !! 17:00  |  Harvey (Chaim) 23/06/08
      51.   # 45 hilda 17:17  |  Axel 23/06/08
      52.   jerusalem for the faiths to worship 17:37  |  montgomery rosen 23/06/08
      53.   Sarkozy - Only 1/4 Jewish, But Proud of It 18:02  |  Tod Zuckerman 23/06/08
      54.   To S (#48) 18:17  |  Morris Valentine 23/06/08
      55.   Sarkozy`s 6 Points are the only Road for Peace. 18:29  |  Ray 23/06/08
      56.   #47. I`m glad 18:37  |  ManintheMiddle 23/06/08
      57.   #10 Indrajaya 18:37  |  Ray 23/06/08
      58.   Sarkozy and Carla make a cute couple 19:06  |  Tali 23/06/08
      59.   #12 21:58  |  JTA 23/06/08
      60.   Welcome to Israel...Pres. Sarkozy.. 22:20  |  Stephen. 23/06/08
      61.   how can you find so much to say on an article that says nothing - 23:38  |  ivo 23/06/08
      62.   # 40 petersm 23:43  |  Axel 23/06/08
      63.   GOOD THEN LET THEIR BE NO PIECE TALKS;IT`S THE BEST NEWS YET!!! 06:03  |  glenna 24/06/08
      64.   yaheskel, one thing is for sure... 07:19  |  BBSNews 24/06/08
      65.   treaties signed by france mean nothing ? 08:15  |  victor hardman 24/06/08
      66.   # 61 good for you, glenna; but have you a clue, glenna? 08:20  |  eric 24/06/08
      67.   AXEL I suggest you give an answer if you have one 08:24  |  PETER SM 24/06/08