Paris - President Jacques Chirac praised the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, yesterday for his "courageous and intelligent" stand in defending his people's interests at the Wye Plantation talks with Israel last month.
Mr Chirac, speaking after meeting Mr Arafat in Paris, said France and its European partners would help find the funding for investments to develop the economy of the Palestinian areas.
Mr Arafat reaffirmed his goal of declaring an independent Palestinian state next May.