World leaders hope that in death Arafat will achieve peace

PARIS (AFP) - World leaders voiced hope that the death of Yasser Arafat would give fresh impetus to the moribund Middle East peace process, but were divided over the Palestinian leader's legacy.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the death of his arch-nemesis could be a "historic turning point" in the Middle East, while US President George W. Bush called his death "a significant moment in Palestinian history."
Arafat, 75, died early Thursday in a French military hospital outside Paris after being flown there from his Ramallah headquarters nearly two weeks ago. He had been in a coma since November 3.
The passing of the symbol of the Palestinian people's cause, who for four decades led his people's struggle for an independent state, threw the Middle East into a new phase of uncertainty and upheaval.
Arafat died without achieving the goal of his 40-year fight -- an independent Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel.
And while there was raw grief among his people, many saw his death as the dawning of a new era after Israel dubbed him the biggest obstacle to peace.
"We hope that the new Palestinian leadership that succeeds him will understand that progress in relations with Israel and solutions to problems must come first and foremost through a war on terrorism," Sharon told Israeli radio.
Bush, who tried to marginalise Arafat when he took office in 2001, said he hoped the Palestinians would soon see "peace and the fulfillment of their aspirations for an independent, democratic Palestine that is at peace with its neighbors."
European politicians, who had largely backed Arafat as the legitimately elected Palestinian president, said his passing was both the end of an era and an opportunity to bring Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.
"The best tribute to president Arafat's memory will be to intensify our efforts to establish a peaceful and viable state of Palestine as foreseen by the roadmap," European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said.
His comments were echoed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair who flew to Washington Thursday ahead of talks with Bush with the peace process at the top of agenda.
"Peace in the Middle East must be the international community's highest priority," Blair said.
Scores of red-eyed Palestinians wept outside Arafat's Ramallah headquarters, where his final resting place will be, as thousands took to the streets across the West Bank and Gaza Strip to mark their leader's death.
"Arafat the man died today, but as a symbol for our struggle, he will live on forever," said Mariam Shuuman, an 18-year-old student.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan praised Arafat's struggle to win international recognition for the Palestinian cause, as he ordered flags to fly at half-mast at the United Nations, even though the Palestinians only have observer status at the world body.
By signing the 1993 Oslo peace accords, Arafat "took a giant step towards the realization of this vision. It is tragic that he did not live to see it fulfilled."
French President Jacques Chirac visited the Percy military hospital to bid a final farewell to Arafat, pledging that his country would continue to work to achieve a settlement in the Middle East.
"I have come to bow before president Yasser Arafat and pay him a final homage," he said after the 25-minute visit.
Bush's predecessor Bill Clinton, who engineered the historic handshake on the White House lawn as Arafat and then Israeli premier Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo peace accords, expressed condolences tinged with regret.
He said that while Arafat's "greatest moment" was that handshake, "I regret that in 2000 (at further peace talks) he missed the opportunity to bring that nation into being."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Arafat was a "great political leader of international significance ... who devoted his whole life to the rightful cause of the Palestinians."
"The life of Yasser Arafat symbolised the turbulent and tragic history of the Palestinian people and the Middle East as a whole. In him were reflected the hopes for peace of many people, but also their disappointments and setbacks," said a message from German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.
South Africa paid a glowing tribute to Arafat as a fellow hero of the liberation struggle and giant who sacrificed all for the Palestinian people.
The government issued a message of condolences, stating that it was "indeed difficult to accept that the greatest leader of the Palestinian people, Yasser Arafat, with whom we have shared so many trials and tribulations, has ceased to lead."
Tunisia, which welcomed Arafat and hosted the Palestine Liberation Organization headquarters from 1982 to 1994, said he was a courageous and wise leader.
And the president of Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-populated nation, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said "hopefully (Arafat's) dreams for a free Palestine will be achieved someday."
"That Arafat's death is a great loss to the Palestinians and the cause of Palestine would be an understatement," said Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the chair of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
"It's true the Israeli and American governments have used Arafat as a pretext not to progress in the peace negotiations. The hour of truth has come. (We will see) if there is a political will or not to build a solution for peace," said Antonio Guterres, head of the Socialist International to which Arafat's Fatah party belongs.
Jordan decreed a 40-day mourning period at the royal court and three days nationwide as King Abdullah II expressed "deep sadness and pain."
Pope John Paul II said Arafat was "a leader of great charisma who loved his people and tried to guide them towards national independence," while saying that he prayed for the reconciliation of the Palestinian and Israeli people.
Chinese President Hu Jintao called Arafat "a brilliant leader" and "a great friend" of China and urged Palestinians to continue efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.

11/11/2004 - 14:32 GMT - AFP