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Statement by Mr. Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, on the occasion of his meeting with the President of the Republic, Mr. Jacques Chirac.

( Unofficial translation )

Elysée Palace, Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I was very happy to accept the invitation of the President of the French Republic, Mr. Jacques Chirac, to pay a visit to France.

I left Israel at a difficult time. A time of continued Palestinian terrorism and of fierce internal disagreements in Israel on the question of disengagement.

And yet despite all these difficulties, I decided to come here to France in order to strengthen French-Israeli relations, to which we attach great importance.

I came here to express my great esteem and friendship to President Jacques Chirac, whom we consider one of the world's great leaders.

I would like to thank the French President for his staunch fight against anti-Semitism and his full and entire faith in the strengthening of the deep friendship between Israel and France.

I am absolutely convinced that this visit will lead to even stronger ties between France and Israel.

Once again, I would like to thank President Jacques Chirac for this invitation and for this visit. I am sure that this visit will help to further strengthen relations between our countries. It will also provide, I am certain, precious aid in the peace process that we in the Mideast so badly need.

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