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France claims diplomatic

return to Middle East

PARIS: France said on Saturday its role in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in South Lebanon marked its return to the Middle East scene after years of "contemplative diplomacy".

Foreign Minister Herve de Charette admitted he felt lonely and had a tough time in his initiation to the region's tricky shuttle diplomacy, but said: "I'm coming home and thinking: mission accomplished for France."

"France can be proud: the agreements which have been signed bear its mark. Its weight and impact in the region are again powerful and respected," he told the daily Le Parisien.

President Jacques Chirac, who had pledged support to Lebanon's sovereignty on a trip to Beirut only days before the fighting broke out between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas, said Friday's ceasefire accord was based on early French proposals.

"France shouldered with determination the obligations which its friendships in the region impose," he said.

An aide of Chirac said he would have lunch with Shimon Peres on Wednesday when the Israeli premier returns from Washington.

De Charette was returning home on Saturday night after talks with Peres. He sat alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut as U.S. State Secretary Warren Christopher and Peres simultaneously announced the ceasefire in Jerusalem.

As the guns fell silent, the French press, which sometimes ridiculed de Charette for trying to rival U.S. diplomacy during his 13-day shuttle, all but dropped its scepticism.

"France saves face since it now has a jump seat (in the Middle East), but without any formal guarantee of being a party to peace talks between Israel, Syria and Lebanon," the leftwing daily Liberation said.

De Charette said he understood scepticism at home as France "had for many years relinquished an active diplomacy in the region for a diplomacy, say, contemplative".

"In such circumstances, French public opinion could be confused, sceptical, incredulous. I understand this, but here are the facts: France played its role," he said.

The conservative pro-government daily Le Figaro hailed the ceasefire as a second diplomatic success for Chirac after his proposals for a Rapid Reaction Force last year paved the way to muscular NATO intervention in Bosnia.

"France is satisfied, rightly so: it was heard; it belongs to the group monitoring the agreement; it regains a major role in the region; it no longer leaves the United States exclusive diplomacy; it leads the European Union in this field," it said.

De Charette has conceded in a French television interview that his mission had "provoked a certain irritation, notably for the Americans".

Israel had made it clear it preferred an American mediation. France has also come under fire from European Union partners for going it alone despite its frequent calls for a more effective joint EU foreign policy.

De Charette admitted that staging France's first diplomatic shuttle in the Middle East without the U.S. experience of such negotiations had been tough: "Frankly, I felt quite alone at the beginning. I felt the international community's indifference."

"I did my work...I endeavoured to play my role methodically and stubbornly...Now, I say: phew. Mission fulfilled," he said.-Reuter