Chirac Defends French Contacts With Iran and Syria

Premier Jacques Chirac on Wednesday defended France’s contacts with Iran and Syria and admitted that he told an American newspaper that West German leaders believe that Israeli agents were involved in a London airport bomb plot.

Chirac responded publicly for the first time to the publication last week in the Washington Times of an interview in which he said West German leaders told him that Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency was involved in last April’s plot to blow up an Israeli jetliner in London.

“I was wrong without a doubt” to have made the remarks for publication, Chirac said in a noisy parliamentary debate.

‘From Near or Far’

“But I want one thing to be clear. I obviously have never suspected Israel from near or far of being associated in any terrorist action in Europe.”

Chirac called the idea that the Mossad may have been involved in the plot along with Syrian dissidents an “absurd hypothesis.”

Earlier, Chirac’s office had said his remarks were misinterpreted, and his rightist party ridiculed the newspaper report.

The paper later published the full text of the interview, in which it quoted Chirac as saying: “Who was behind it (the plot)? Probably people connected with the Israeli Mossad in conjunction with certain Syrian elements close to (Syrian President Hafez) Assad who seek his overthrow.”

Sanctions Against Syria

Jordanian Nezar Hindawi was sentenced to 40 years in prison in the plot, and Britain severed relations with Syria for its alleged involvement. At Britain’s urging, 11 of 12 members of the European Communities on Monday approved limited sanctions against Syria, including a ban on arms sales.

The French parliamentary debate, interrupted at times by jeering and catcalls, came a day after two French hostages freed unharmed by Lebanese extremists in Beirut arrived in Paris and the French government thanked Syria for its role in gaining their freedom.

The release of the two followed efforts by Chirac’s government to improve relations with Iran and Syria, including a preliminary agreement with Iran in which France will begin repaying $1 billion lent to Paris before Tehran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.

No Promises Made

The government said no promises have been made to Syria for its help in obtaining the release of the two hostages.

Socialist Member of Parliament Pierre Beregovoy asked Chirac whether France had compromised its principles by holding contacts with the two nations, accused by some countries of state-backed terrorism.

Chirac said that freedom for hostages Camille Sontag, 85, and Marcel Coudari, 54, was obtained “without ceding anything that is contrary to our honor and our ideals.”

‘We Have Yielded Nothing’

“We have never envisioned any compromise, we have yielded nothing, nor have we ever renounced any of our principles, and we have made our position clear. We are in the process of normalizing (ties) with Iran.

“We have not allowed any sale of arms to go to Iran,” Chirac said, adding that his conservative government has refused to carry out arms contracts with Syria that were arranged by France’s previous Socialist government, toppled in last March’s elections.

Chirac said contacts with nations that have a “direct or indirect” influence over the kidnapers of five more French hostages still being held in Lebanon are continuing.