| Publications | France A-Z | France/U.S. Relations | France in the U.S. | News | Aller aux Etats-Unis | Just for Kids | Going to France | Contact |
|
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.] LEBANON
Let me read you the statement issued by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs:
“The situation is grave. We are extremely concerned by the fighting of the past two days in Beirut. We vigorously condemn this violence. We must avoid at all costs the terrible spiral of civil war.
“We therefore call on everyone, each party, each force, to end the fighting immediately and to return to the path of dialogue. We call for the reopening of roads and the airport and the lifting of blockades. The people must not once again pay the price for Lebanon’s political crises. It is unacceptable for the physical integrity of political leaders to be threatened. In these grave circumstances, the freedom of the media and its ability to broadcast must be reestablished.
“France reiterates its support for Lebanese authorities and institutions, first and foremost the government and the army, which is responsible, in respect of the constitution, for preserving the country’s stability and security.
“There is no solution other than a political one. Fifteen years of civil war have shown that no one community can prevail over the others. The elements of dialogue are known. We sketched them out last fall. The Arab League has incorporated them in its own efforts.
“We invite all the parties to sit down at the table to reach an agreement. We are prepared to facilitate their meeting and to take all the necessary initiatives.
“Indeed, France does not intend to remain inactive with respect to this tragedy. I am in contact directly, and through our ambassador to Beirut, with all the Lebanese factions. I have just spoken about it with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, and I will call the other Lebanese leaders today and coordinate our action with Lebanon’s main partners, beginning with the Arab League.
“We expect all of the influential international and regional players in Lebanon to behave responsibility and with restraint in order to permit the return of calm and to facilitate political mediation.
“France mobilized yesterday to obtain an initial reaction to these events at the Security Council in New York. The Security Council members are following the situation in Lebanon with the utmost vigilance.
“France, whose ambassador is representing the local EU Presidency in Lebanon on behalf of the Slovenians, is actively consulting actively with its European partners.
“Our Embassy is fully mobilized to ensure the security of the French community.”
Q - Are you for or against the formation of a transitional government led by General Suleimane?
Q - France waited for the evening of the second day of troubles in Lebanon before issuing a brief communiqué. Can you give us France’s position after the serious events in the country?
Q - Has France been asked by the Lebanese government to put pressure on Iran to facilitate the solution in Lebanon?
Q - Is Lebanese Minister Marwan Hamade calling for France to help Lebanon? Your answer?
I refer you to the minister’s statement at the beginning of this briefing.
Q - With civil war starting, what is France planning to do to save Lebanon? Are you planning to repatriate French citizens? Are you still committed to the Arab initiative which has shown its limits?
We are following with the utmost attention the development of the situation so as to take the necessary measures to protect our compatriots.
The question of a repatriation plan isn’t on the agenda at this point but we advise against any travel to Lebanon and invite our citizens who are there to exercise the greatest caution.
Regarding the Arab initiative, I refer you to the minister’s statement.
(…)
France welcomes the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Latvian and Lithuanian parliaments on May 8.
In ratifying the treaty by a large majority and by choosing to do so on the eve of May 9, Europe Day, these two countries demonstrate their commitment to the European project.
These two ratifications bring to 13 the number of states that have ratified the Lisbon Treaty.
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner will pay a visit to Algeria on May 12. He will take with him a message from President Sarkozy.
The main purpose of the trip is to discuss with our Algerian partners the Mediterranean Union in which Algeria is to be a major actor.
French-Algerian bilateral relations will also be on the agenda. Six months on from President Sarkozy’s state visit to Algeria, the minister will review with his interlocutors the many issues that were initiated at that time and which embody the “exceptional partnership” desired by the two heads of state.
The talks will also include all the regional and international questions.
(…)
Q - A British court has removed the People’s Mujahadeen from the list of terrorist organizations. Does the French government anticipate a change on the European list of terrorist organizations?
We have taken note of the Appeal Court’s rejection of the appeal by the Home Office against a ruling by the Proscribed Organization Appeal Court.
The decision itself does not mean the removal of the PMOI from the British list, this being the competence of Parliament. So the PMOI is still on the British and European lists. If it should be removed from the British list, then there would have to be a discussion on whether it should be kept on the European list./.
Embassy of France, May 9, 2008
|
