September 9, 2003	Tuesday	Rajab 11, 1424

PARIS, Sept 8: France has finally given in to Israeli and American pressure and has accorded its support to the European Union which has just placed Hamas on the EU’s blacklist of terrorist organisations.

But according to French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, the decision was given with a number of provisions, and the decision to freeze Hamas-related bank accounts in EU member-countries like France is, practically speaking, completely inapplicable.

Mr de Villepin would not comment on a statement by Jack Straw who had said “it was time that France recognized that there doesn’t exist any difference between the political and military branches of Hamas.” He did say however that in his estimation “Europe ... would “come back on its decision if the movement renounces terrorism and violence.”

The foreign minister also said he did not agree with foreign perceptions about the France-based NGO Comite de Solidarite et de Bienfaisance du Peuple Palestinien (CSBPP), an association considered as being pro-Hamas, accused last month by Washington of actively financing Hamas. and which has already placed it on its own black list.