"Cloning" file attributes and permissions

[Paulo da Silva]

Hi!

I need to process a file to produce another file that *must* have
*exactly* the same attributes and permissions of the former. What is the
best way to do this? The file must not exist with contents (it may exist
empty) unless it has the same attributes and permissions.
I know how to do this using, let me call it, "C type code" (stat, chmod,
chown, etc). I would like to hear some opinions on if and how it would
be possible in a more elegant/python way.

Thanks.
Paulo