Speaking hours after the government moved to extend a state of emergency declaration, Mr Chirac vowed to fight the 'poison' of discrimination faced by immigrant communities throughout the country.
"These events are the sign of a deep malaise. Some people started fires in their own neighbourhoods, burned the cars of their neighbours, their friends, attacked their schools and sports centres," Mr Chirac said.
But the French president also said that there is a place in French society for the poor youths from migrant dominated suburbs.
The president promised a series of measures to improve access to the workplace for youths from such areas, and vowed to fight discrimination in France.
Chirac said he would meet French political leaders, businesses, unions and the media to discuss youth employment in struggling neighbourhoods
The essential question of diversity will also be considered.
"This is not about setting quotas... It is about giving young people the same chances in the workplace," he said.
There were warnings though that those who took part in the violence would face swift justice
"The justice system has been alerted, it will shed full light (on the unrest), it will be without weakness. Everyone must know that the law cannot be broken with impunity," Mr Chirac said.