Mr Mitterrand’s about-face on deals with terrorists

Press, 26 December 1986, Page 12

Mr Mitterrand’s about-face on deals with terrorists

By Nigel Hawkes, of the “Observer’

Just two days after agreeing at the London summit meeting of the European Community to make no concessions under duress to terrorists or their sponsors, President Mitterrand of France has apparently done that very thing. In a radio interview he said: “I would consider the possibility of pardoning Anis Nattache (imprisoned for the attempted murder of the former Iranian Prime Minister, Mr Shapour Bakhtiar) if all the French hostages were liberated and if I was formally requested to do this by the French Government.” On the face of it, this offer

contradicts both President Mit- • terranH’s past position on terrorism, and the agreement he put his name to in London earlier this month. Indeed, it also contradicts something he said in another part of the same interview: “I have never pardoned a terrorist... I will not use the presidential pardon to exchange murderers for hostages.” Officials in London were bewildered by President Mitterrand’s apparent reverse of policy. “Not only does this go against long-standing policy, but two days ago he put his name to a pretty specific agreement, ’ said one official. “It’s amazing.” President Mitterrand’s remarks, coming so soon af[ er the revelations of arms dealing by ■r the United States Administration { in a bungled attempt to obtain the release of American hos-

tages, underlines once more the fragility of the Western position on terrorism. Even those who use the toughest rhetoric against terrorists tend to behave as if the policies they endorse don’t apply to them.

The terrorist referred to by Mr Mitterrand led a pro-Khomeiny group which attempted to kill Mr Shapour Bakhtiar in July 1980. A policeman and a woman were killed, and another policeman paralysed in the gun battle. Mr Mitterrand’s offer to pardon him — the prerogative of pardon is in the personal gift of the President under French law — has very little chance of getting out the seven French hostages held in Lebanon. As the American intermediaries discovered, the Iranian authorities have limited powers in Lebanon, even though some of the hostagetakers are supporters of Ayatollah Khomeiny’s brand of Islamic fundamentalism.

Ayatollah Khomeiny might be able to arrange the release of one or two, but by making the pardon conditional on the release of all seven, the French President seems to be seeking the impossible. Even to suggest the trade will make him highly unpopular with Mrs Margaret Thatcher. In an interview with Independent Television News, she declared: “Although it is difficult, we have no truck with terrorists, we have no truck with bargaining for hostages. If you do, you might get

someone out who has been unjustly treated, but very shortly half a dozen, ten, twenty more would be taken in as the terrorists wanted to bargain with someone else. So we are firm, and I hope that our firmness has given leadership to the rest of the world.”

In practice, there is no doubt more to Mr Mitterrand’s remarks than appears on the surface. He is not a man to say things casually and without thought. Analysis of his words and the apparent contradictions between them suggest that what he was doing was pointing the finger at the Prime Minister, Mr Jacques Chirac, who has been anxious to achieve a political coup by obtaining the release of the hostages. By implying that the Government had been putting pressure on him to consider a pardon, and adding his own views on the possible use of the presidential pardon to exchange “murderers for hostages,” Mr Mitterrand is saying as plainly as he can that it is Mr Chirac who wants to do deals, not him. But at the same time, his remarks will put him in line for any credit that may result should such an exchange occur.

In short, it is a vintage piece of Mitterrand slipperiness, designed for purely political purposes. The only victim is Western solidarity towards terrorism, now looking more tattered and unconvincing than ever.