President of France (1995 – 2007)

“A man of courage and conviction.”

Arafat was a man of courage and conviction. He embodied the Palestinian struggle for statehood for the past four decades. I hope that the loss which the Palestinian people have incurred promote their unity. The Palestinian people will not be faithful to the memory of Yasser Arafat except through their unity and adherence to the ideals and principles to which devoted his life.