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Daily Press Briefing Statements made by [Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]
FRANCE/UGANDA
Foreign Minister de Villepin has received his Ugandan counterpart, James Wapakhabulo. France has excellent relations with Uganda.
The meeting dealt primarily with the regional situation and especially the DRC’s recovery of full sovereignty over all its territory.
France strongly condemns, in this regard, the violence of the last few days in the Kivu.
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The two ministers also expressed satisfaction with the progress in Burundi and welcomed the move on April 30 to the second phase of the transition in that country.
European Affairs Minister Delegate Noëlle Lenoir, will go to Le Havre on Tuesday, May 6, in the context of her “Rencontres pour l’Europe” campaign which began on February 13 this year.
These meetings are part of the government’s information campaign launched by the prime minister who entrusted Nöelle Lenoir with the mission of going out to meet French people to explain the benefits of an enlarged Europe.
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European Affairs Minister Delegate Noëlle Lenoir had invited French members of the European Parliament to discuss the main items on the agenda for the plenary session in Strasbourg in May. The meeting was held at the Quai d’Orsay this morning.
In addition to international and European current events, several major technical issues were addressed.
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The purpose of these monthly meetings is to indicate France’s positions in various areas and to allow for exchanges of views among legislators across the political spectrum.
We noted with satisfaction that the General Assembly’s Third Committee has approved by consensus the draft agreement between the UN secretary-general and the Cambodian state on UN support for special courts to be created within the Cambodian justice system to try those responsible for the crimes committed during the period of Democratic Kampuchea.
We welcome this unanimous decision which is an important stage in trying the principal Khmer Rouge leaders.
I recall that France played a very active role at the United Nations to get the international body to provide assistance to these special courts.
A meeting of G8 interior and justice ministers is being held in Paris on May 4 and 5.
In this context and following his trip to Washington in November 2002, Justice Minister Dominique Perben will have a bilateral meeting with US Attorney General John Ashcroft for the purpose of addressing issues of mutual interest. This is the attorney general’s first visit to France.
I recall the statement issued by the deputy spokesperson on Friday, May 2.
“Following the various announcements of candidacies in the presidential elections in Togo on June 1, France hopes that the campaign which is starting will let all political opinions be expressed and all participate in the debate through a transparent electoral process.
“At the same time as they help to strengthen democratic practices, these elements will contribute to Togo’s stability.”
Saturday’s signing of a cease-fire agreement between government forces and rebel leaders applying to the entire country is an important stage in the process to end the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire that began more than seven months ago. Its effective application is an essential condition for the successful implementation of the Marcoussis agreement and the re-establishment of normal life through the country.
Q - Do you have any comment about the legislative elections and campaign?
France is pleased that the third legislative elections were held in Yemen on April 27 and that they were generally satisfactorily in terms of transparency and regularity.
These elections demonstrate that Yemen has begun the road to democracy.
I recall that France is closely following the democratic process in Yemen. Deputy Jean-Michel Ferrand was there as a foreign observer.
Q - Can you confirm that a circular is to be published soon requiring French officials abroad to use French at all official events including in such international organizations as the UN and UNESCO?
In a note on March 20, 2003, International Francophony Day, the minister delegate, Pierre-André Wiltzer, sent a reminder to heads of diplomatic and consular posts and Ministry officials about the prime minister’s circular of February 14, 2003 on the special responsibilities incumbent on state officials regarding the French language which is our common property and a fundamental principle of our external action. All public officials must comply with the general principle, enshrined in the Constitution, that the language of the Republic is French.
Q - What interpretation does France put on the fact that the US intends giving Poland, a future member of the European Union, a military sector in Iraq without Security Council endorsement?
At this time we’re still in the phase in which the country is being made safe and during this period there’s a reconfiguration of the occupying force and a diversification of manpower.
As you know, and as the French authorities have said, after the securing phase and in the context of engaging in the reconstruction phase in Iraq, we think the United Nations should have a central role.
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Q - Has French participation in the “securing phase” of Iraq been ruled out without a UN mandate?
I refer you to the comments by French authorities. As the minister said again in Greece on Saturday, on the sidelines of the Gymnich at Rhodes, France remains “faithful to its position.”
Q - Is it possible and desirable for France to endorse NATO logistic aid for humanitarian ends in Iraq?
Our position hasn’t changed. It was enunciated by the president in Athens and on April 30 spelled out by the foreign minister in response to a question: “You mention a possible NATO contribution. Would it be a NATO force, or a technical contribution that NATO might make? We have to examine these options together. As far as France is concerned, we consider that any participation that might be envisioned could only be done in a United Nations framework.
Q - Is France putting forward any special proposals for Monday’s meeting of experts and Interpol about the destruction and looting of Iraqi sites? Who’s representing France at the meeting?
International discussions are being set in train. France is participating actively in this.
Two meetings of experts were held recently. The first was called by the director general of UNESCO on April 17 and the second was organized by the head of the British Museum in London on April 29.
France was represented at both meetings by Ms Caubet, head of the Louvre department of oriental antiquities. She made several proposals, specifically with regard to evaluating the needs and museum organization and management.
The director general of UNESCO is preparing to send a mission to evaluate the situation, and one or two French experts will be taking part.
Q - Do you have any proposals for a mechanism to monitor and implement the roadmap?
This important question is being discussed in the Quartet./.
Embassy of France, May 5, 2003
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