By KUNA
Paris : French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who returned February 17 after a two-day visit to the Palestinian territories and Israel, complained during talks to the Israeli leadership about the lack of progress in Palestinian, economic projects due to Israeli blockades.
It was the third trip to the region by Kouchner since he took up his post last May, and he once again emphasized the need to move forward with core negotiations to arrive at a peace agreement by the end of 2008, French officials indicated here Monday.
In a review with both sides regarding the implementation of the Annapolis agreements and the financing accord that raised USD 7.7 billion for the Palestinians in Paris last December, Kouchner said concrete progress must be seen on the ground.
“In this framework, the Minister regretted the lack of progress on the ground in certain economic development projects because of the blockades linked to the keeping in place of hundreds of road checkpoints in the West Bank and because of the blockade of Gaza,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said at a briefing.
She also noted that Kouchner, as has been the constant French position, against condemned the firing of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel.
The French minister “stressed that it is indispensable to create a climate of confidence” and to get the broad, popular support for the ongoing peace process.
“In this area, a total freeze on settlements is necessary,” Andreani remarked, reflecting the opinion of the Foreign Minister.