PARIS, Jan 13 (AFP) - President Jacques Chirac on Thursday received leaders of France's four million Muslims in a symbolic encounter hailed by his guests as an historic event bringing Islam into the French political landscape.
The meeting was seen as a key goodwill gesture by the head of state in a sometimes uneasy multi-ethnic society with racial and social tensions. Islam is France's second religion after Catholicism. Most of the adherents are of North African origin. France's total population is 59 million, making the Muslim population 7 percent of the population.
One of the four Muslim leaders said that from now on Islam would open up more to French society, no longer being just a source of recrimination in relations with the state.
Chirac's spokeswoman said his aim in receiving the Muslim dignitaries as part of traditional New Year ceremonies, was "to officially offer the New Year wishes of the president of the French Republic, and through them, to present these wishes to the entire community of Muslims in France."
The Grand Mufti of Marseilles said afterwards: "The President of the Republic gave us the formal promise that he would do all to ensure that Islam acquires the status it is entitled to alongside other religions observed in France."
The absence of a single Islamic leader in France has hitherto prevented Muslims being represented at the traditional New Year ceremonies between religious leaders and the president. Last week Chirac held a customary reception for representatives of Catholics, Protestants and the Jews.
The Grand Mufti, Sheib Ben Sheikh, said Thursday's unprecedented meeting would have a double result of "initiating Muslims into more good citizenship and helping the French mind to consider the Muslim religion as an additional enrichment for France."
" Islam is taking root amazingly," said Ben sheikh. "From today on, it forms part of France's landscape."
Chirac's spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna, said the more than 60-minute meeting signaled a beginning of dialogue, which had enabled the guests "to speak of the place of the Muslim community in France and their conception of Islam in the republic."
The talk covered the training of imams and the general theme of integration. Despite an estimated population of between four and five million, French Muslims have only eight proper mosques throughout the country, and frequently hold religious meetings in unused factory space or even cellars.
Dalil Boubakeur, Imam of the Paris Mosque, who attended the session, said later:
"Today the president of the republic showed himself to be president of all the populations of France."
"Our commitment today is to consecrate a French Islam in which a recognized religion will open itself up through its men, structures and message to the harmony of French society in respect for the laws of the republic."
He said that being a Muslim in France today meant "being a citizen entirely apart in all components of one's personality." Now Islam would no longer be either a "refuge or a source of recrimination in its relations with the state," the imam stressed.
The other two guests at the Elysee palace were Rabah Khelif, president of the Lyons Mosque, and Mustapha Sgiri, Imam of the Mosque of Mantes-La-Jolie in the Paris suburbs.
Thursday's meeting came as Interior Minister Jean-Pierre Chevenement launched consultations with various Muslim leaders and groups to develop relations. France's Muslims consist of a kaleidoscope of groups, which have been unable to set up a single, joint body to represent their affairs in dealing with state authorities.
Meanwhile urgent problems have to be resolved, including building mosques, special areas in cemeteries, halal slaughter of animals, and training for imams.
