‘Pak as terror haven unacceptable’

France supports a “democratic,stable and prosperous Pakistan,” but not a country that is the “melting pot of world terrorism”,the President said.

After laying a wreath at the Mumbai Police’s memorial to terror victims,Sarkozy spoke to a gathering of French invitees,journalists and a few survivors of the attacks.

While the President and his wife Carla Bruni first signed the guestbook at the five-star hotel,which was one of the places attacked two years ago,Sarkozy ended his speech commending the staff of The Oberoi and the Taj Mahal Palace hotels for their bravery that led to several hundred lives being saved.

Sarkozy also lauded Karambir Kang,who was general manager at The Taj during the attack,and Oberoi executive vice-president Devendra Bharma for helping guests at great peril to themselves,and honoured them with the officers’ insignia of the ‘Ordre National Du Merite’.

Also present at the event were Kavita Karkare and Smita Salaskar,whose husbands were killed by the terrorists,railway announcer Vishnu Zende,RPF head constable Jhillu Yadav and a Rabbi from Chabad House.

Earlier,Sarkozy praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his restraint and for doggedly pursuing the path of dialogue. Stating that France too remains under constant threat from terrorists,he said the first step was “total and unrestricted international cooperation” that would ensure that terrorism is “universally outlawed”. Calling for more effective judicial cooperation as well,he said there can be no limit to cooperation on this subject.

Switching from a prepared speech to extempore,the French President also said the world is yet to understand what draws young people,“apparently educated,to whom life seems to offer so much”,to turn into suicide bombers. “Are these backlashes to injustices?” he said,adding,“We must correct those”.