- Title: France warns Trump on moving US Embassy to Jerusalem
- Date: 15th January 2017
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 15, 2017) (REUTERS FOR AGENCY POOL) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER JEAN-MARC AYRAULT GIVING NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA WORKING AYRAULT DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "This is about reaching out, reaching out to the other (two) parties, to Israel, to Palestine, to the Israelis, to the Palestinians. I hope they will be able to take that hand reaching out to them." VARIOUS OF REPORTER TAKING NOTES AYRAULT AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "I said that previous American governments had considered that option and in the end, none of the presidents actually went through with it. When I say it's a provocation, I said so because it would be the result of a unilateral decision, so the so sensitive question of Jerusalem can only be dealt as a result of a negotiation between the parties. So if there is some kind of peace agreement that includes the status of Jerusalem that is a fair one than, where the embassies are set up, is an issue that will be dealt with differently by both states but just to do this at the drop of a hat is some kind of provocation." AYRAULT DURING NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA
- Embargoed: 29th January 2017 17:53
- Keywords: Ayrault Middle East Israel Palestinians peace Trump
- Location: PARIS,FRANCE
- City: PARIS,FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015Z6YAMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Sunday (January 15) closed a conference on the Middle East which he said aimed at putting the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians back on the world agenda.
Some 70 countries on Sunday reaffirmed that only a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians could resolve the conflict and warned that they would not recognise any unilateral steps taken by either side that could prejudge negotiations.
The final communique shied away explicitly from criticising plans by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to move the U.S Embassy to Jerusalem, but said a new conference would be held by year-end for interested parties.
Trump has pledged to pursue more pro-Israeli policies and move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv, where it has been for 68 years, to Jerusalem, all but enshrining the city as Israel's capital despite international objections.
Calling it a provocation, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the move would have serious consequences on the ground. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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