French President Jacques Chirac announced in a televised address
Sunday night that he would not seek a third presidential term.
This came after long expectation by French media for Chirac to
clarify whether he will be among contestants for this year's
presidential elections.
Chirac urged French people to stay true to their values. "Never
have trucks with extremism, racism, anti-Semitism or the rejection
of others. In our own history, extremism has already nearly brought
us to the abyss," he said.
"France is not a country like others. It has particular
responsibilities, the legacy of its history and the universal
values which it helped create," Chirac said. "Facing the risk of
the clash of civilizations, facing the rise of extremism, notably
religious extremism, France must defend tolerance, dialogue and
respect," he added.
Chirac, 74, has repeatedly answered the question of whether he
would seek re-election by saying that he would make his decision
during the first quarter of 2007.
Elected president in 1995, Chirac has been in the presidential
palace for 12 years, five years of which he spent in cohabitation
with former socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
Chirac's activities on the diplomatic front, notably France
saying "no" to the Iraqi war, his commitment to the environment
protection and solidarity with countries from the South, has won
him the respect and admiration from different corners of the world,
according to observers.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2007)
