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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.] COLOMBIA/HOSTAGES
I will read the communiqué issued by the three facilitator countries last night: “The three facilitator countries, France, Spain and Switzerland, take note of the decision by the Central Secretariat of the General Staff of the FARC to reject the medical mission that was intended to help Ingrid Betancourt and the other weakest hostages.
“As President Sarkozy said in his latest appeal to Manuel Marulanda and the FARC commanders, the rejection is a serious political error in addition to a humanitarian tragedy.
“The three facilitator countries regret the secretariat’s decision all the more keenly as it was after a message from the FARC themselves clearly informing them that Ingrid Betancourt’s health had seriously deteriorated that they took the decision to send their medical mission to Colombia. The three facilitator countries thank the Colombian authorities who gave them every guarantee for security and independence from the beginning.
“In these circumstances, the three facilitator countries believe that keeping the medical mission in Colombia is no longer justified at this time. It is due to leave shortly.
“The three facilitator countries are as determined as ever. They will remain fully mobilized for the release of Ingrid Betancourt and the weakest hostages, and a humanitarian solution.”
Q - Since the FARC has rejected the humanitarian mission: 1 – What’s the date set for the aircraft’s return? 2 – Do you plan to bring back all the members of the mission or leave an envoy there to re-establish contact? 3 – Is the minister due to go only to Caracas or Bogotá or also to other countries such as Brazil which yesterday called for Ingrid Betancourt to be freed immediately?
All the members of the mission are due to return to France shortly. As the minister said at his press briefing yesterday, we are exploring all possible ways to obtain the hostages’ release.
With regard to the minister’s trip to the region, the dates and program haven’t been decided on yet. The purpose of the trip will be to have in-depth consultations with people who can help with progress towards a humanitarian solution.
Q - Is the minister still going to central Asia? When will he go to Latin America to confer on the hostages? He mentioned yesterday “another path.” Could you expand on that?
The minister is still going to central Asia as I just said. With regard to your two other questions, I refer you to my previous answer.
MINISTER’S VISIT TO CENTRAL ASIA
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner will visit Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on April 10 and 11, 2008.
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The two visits come in the context of preparations for the French presidency of the European Union which will continue the implementation of the European strategy for central Asia.
Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are both important partners for Europe and France. We wish to strengthen relations with them.
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Q - According to Le Canard Enchaîné, the “three conditions” cited by Ms Yade in her interview in Le Monde appeared in briefing notes approved by the Quai d’Orsay and the Elysée. Can you confirm the existence of this document and tell us if the word “conditions” actually appears in it?
I can confirm that there are three elements which we think are conducive to a solution: an end to violence in Tibet, free access by the press and the resumption of dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
Q - How do you account for the fact that the Ministry issued a communiqué from Secretary of State Rama Yade stating that the word “conditions” was not used in her interview in Le Monde now that the minister himself confirmed that Ms Yade actually did speak of “conditions” for President Nicolas Sarkozy to go Beijing in August before he retracted the word?
It’s time to drop this semantic debate. The important thing is to emphasize the three points I referred to in my previous answer and which also appeared in the statement adopted at the last informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brdo on March 29.
Q - Can you confirm that the GIGN group [Gendarmerie commando unit] sent to Djibouti is now deployed on a French ship ready to make an arrest or assault at sea after the hijacking of a French three-masted yacht by pirates off the coast of Somalia?
As I told you on April 7, the GIGN has been sent to Djibouti to support the negotiation. Our priority remains the security of the hostages. This is what President Sarkozy told the families yesterday when he met with them.
Q - Can you confirm that the Ministry’s crisis unit is predicting that it will take one or two months of negotiations with the pirates in Somalia to obtain the release of the Ponant’s crew?
It is impossible to predict how long this type of crisis will last. We hope the hostages will be released as soon as possible. All our efforts are directed to this end, and we tell the families this in our daily contacts with them.
Q - What’s France’s reaction to the testimony of American military leaders in Iraq, particularly General Petraeus who recommends a freeze and a re-evaluation of the withdrawal of US forces from the county in view of the current security situation?
General Petraeus did make this recommendation to the US Congress.
France for its part has always underscored the importance of a political process to bring about national reconciliation in Iraq with the involvement of all components of society in institutions where there’s a consensus.
The re-establishment of Iraq’s sovereignty and the assertion of the State’s authority are essential. This entails among other things the Iraqis regaining complete control of their sovereignty in all areas.
Q - Does France still support a policy of withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq and what is the timeframe for it?
It is up to the Iraqis to set a timeframe for the withdrawal.
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Q - Mr. Kouchner said yesterday that the prosecution’s witness in Rafik Hariri’s assassination, Mr. al-Saddiq, had disappeared. Has he left France? If so, can he come back?
We know only that Mr. al Saddiq left his home on March 13.
Q - Can you give us details about when he arrived in France?
He arrived in France in the summer of 2005.
Q - What was his status in France?
I refer you to the Ministry of the Interior.
Q - Did the Lebanese government send you a second request for Mr. al Saddiq’s extradition? And when was that?
Extradition requests are a matter for the Ministry of Justice. So I refer you to that ministry.
Q - Did you alert the international investigators before his “disappearance”?
According to our information, there was no need to alert the international commission of inquiry who knew Mr. al Saddiq’s situation./.
Embassy of France, April 9, 2008
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