France says Palestinian statehood bid "dangerous"
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France's foreign minister, Alain Juppé, warned on Friday that a bid by Palestinians to win recognition as a state from the United Nations could trigger a dangerous diplomatic confrontation.
Frustrated by the lack of progress in the peace process, Palestinians are campaigning for recognition at the UN General Assembly later in September.
But on Friday Juppé told the annual gathering of French ambassadors that Paris hopes the Palestinians will "use the occasion to re-open the path to dialogue rather than risking a futile and dangerous diplomatic confrontation."
Juppé also said that "the 27 countries [of the European Union] should speak with one voice" on the matter.
European foreign ministers are debating the question at a meeting in Poland on Friday.
Washington insists that the Palestinians will only achieve proper statehood through negotiations within the peace process, and has warned that the United States will veto any vote to accord statehood to the Palestinians at the UN Security Council
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