Chirac personally condemns Malaysian PM's remarks on Jews

By The Associated Press

from: http://www.haaretz.com/
Sunday, October 19, 2003 Tishrei 23, 5764

PARIS - French President Jacques Chirac sent an unusually frank letter Sunday to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad personally condemning his comments last week that Jews "rule the world by proxy."

"Your remarks on the rule of Jews gave rise to very strong disapproval in France and in the world," said the letter. It added that "these remarks can only be condemned by all who preserve the memory of the Holocaust."

Numerous nations and the European Union have condemned the remarks Thursday by Mahathir who said that Jews "rule the world by proxy" and suggested that Jews get "others to fight and die for them."

However, France came back with force Sunday after reports in Malaysian newspapers that Mahathir had expressed his gratitude to the French president for his "understanding" of Mahathir's speech, given at the opening of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference.

"I never thought the Europeans would be against me," the New Sunday Times quoted Mahathir as saying. "I can't understand them. I'm glad that Chirac at least understands. I would like to thank him publicly."

"You have certainly learned of the October 17 declaration of the [Italian] presidency of the European Union," Chirac said in his letter to underscore the condemnation by the EU, of which France is a leading member.

Friday's statement by the Italian presidency said that Mahathir's remarks have "no place in a tolerant world." However, that formal condemnation was not included in a final text of an EU summit Friday on the recommendation of Chirac, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and some other leaders, reportedly because it was not part of the summit agenda.

Chirac's letter was made public hours after his office reiterated French condemnation of Mahathir's remarks. "France condemns such comments that it considers as totally unacceptable," said the spokeswoman for the presidential palace, Catherine Colonna. Mahathir, in turn, has said that his remarks were misunderstood and that his speech was critical of Muslims.

Chirac's letter noted that the Malaysian prime minister's speech condemned suicide attacks and contained "lucid and courageous thoughts" directed at the Muslim world. It added, however, that for that reason French authorities have called for respect between the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which is the largest Muslim grouping, and other religions.

- posted by Izak @ 12:02 AM