PARIS, May 3: French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine has launched a public appeal to President Yasser Arafat asking him to “continue his efforts” towards bringing about peace with Israel, and also “profit from the opportunity” of his recent “liberation” by Israel to “restore his authority and defend the legitimate rights of his people to a viable Palestinian State”.

Mr Vedrine, who will be leaving office on Tuesday in the wake of the decision by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to hand in his government’s resignation, said he “hoped” that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would support this “new course of events” and would “accept to relaunch the political process” for bringing about a settlement.

Mr Vedrine says the decision to make a public declaration with regard to Mr Arafat’s future also came following a telephone call to him Monday (April 29) by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.