Sunday, October 19, 2003
Jacques Chirac, perhaps having a bout of second thoughts after blocking an EU condemnation of Mahathir Mohamad's remarks at the OIC concerning Jews and World Ruling and then being thanked publicly by PM Mahathir, has written PM Mahathir a letter condemning the remarks in the strongest of terms.
A day late I'd say - better than nothing, but first reactions say much, don't they? Instructive as to the type of "leadership" France intends to provide to Europe. The heartening thing about this is that there was still enough sense in the world to pressure Chirac into doing this. No, France, and Europe generally, hasn't quite become the 58th member of the OIC. Perhaps there's only so much patience in the world even now for jetting around the world and pandering to hate and dictators.
We can only hope.
Haaretz Article - Chirac personally condemns Malaysian PM's remarks on Jews
"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...
