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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.]
AFGHANISTAN
Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine will meet tomorrow with Lakhdar Brahimi who was recently named the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan. We have been in continual contact with him since he was appointed.
The meeting will be used to discuss the situation in the region in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the launch of the American and British airstrikes against Afghanistan two days ago. The minister will present the "Action Plan for Afghanistan" drawn up by France to give the Afghan people a future and rebuild Afghanistan. The aim of the plan is to base the immediate humanitarian action and the search for a political transition and reconstruction plan on a comprehensive, coherent approach. I would also like to say again that France recently announced emergency humanitarian aid of 226 million FF.
The minister will also discuss with Mr. Brahimi the indispensable role that the U.N. will be invited to play in this context since Mr. Brahimi is now responsible for all humanitarian, political and development aspects. The U.N.'s role will be to mediate, organize, coordinate and implement the international action in Afghanistan.
Q - Are there any French officers in Afghanistan at this time?
The defense minister said some intelligence officers may possibly have been in the northern zone for a certain time. For more details, you'll have to ask the Defense Ministry.
Owing to the G7 finance ministers meeting, a detailed three-pronged action plan was adopted with Russia's full approval.
First the international sanctions under U.N. auspices are to be strengthened to dry up terrorist financing. The G7 countries are going to ask for more stringent application of U.N. resolutions against terrorist financing, resolutions that ask all countries to freeze the assets and funds of Osama bin Laden and his associates all over the world. They will also accelerate ratification of the U.N. convention on terrorist financing.
Next, international cooperation is to be strengthened through FATF action and the so-called Egmont Group. The G7 countries expressed their resolve to expand the authority of FATF to fight terrorist financing. FATF will meet at the end of Octover. It will publish special recommendations and revise its recommendations--about 40 of them--in the context of this new authority. Also the G7 countries call on all states to establish financial intelligence units in order to enhance international cooperation. The Egmont Group, established in 1995, at France's initiative in particular, encompasses the financial intelligence units of 58 countries. The G7 calls on this group to enhance cooperation among its members in order to speed up the exchange of available information even more.
Financial supervisors and regulators will need to redouble their efforts. The G7 countries ask that the recommendations of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision on customer identification be incorporated into banks' internal safeguards as a matter of urgency. They are asking for increased monitoring of off-shore financial centers, especially by enhancing and accelerating the work of the Financial Stability Forum and IMF on these centers.
France has taken note of the postponement of the Francophone summit, the decision being taken by the organization's secretary general after consulting with the heads of state and government of member countries because of the international situation. The next summit will be held in the Lebanese capital in the fall of 2002. France hopes that the ministerial conference, scheduled for Paris at the end of the year, in mid-December, approves the budget and program for operators; France wishes to recall and commend the remarkable work of the Lebanese authorities in organizing the summit.
Q - Is Mr. Boutros-Ghali going to stay on?
In our view, the summit is responsible for the election of the secretary-general of the Francophone organization; consequently, Mr. Boutros-Ghali's mandate should be maintained until fall 2000.
Q - Can you confirm that Mr. Védrine is to visit Pristina and go to Albania at the end of the week?
The visit is still on his agenda, still scheduled for October 12 in Tirana and Pristina.
Q - Was there an agreement with the FRY about Mr. Védrine's visit to Kosovo?
I don't know whether there were official consultations, but in any case it was discussed from the beginning with our partners in the FRY. They were informed very early on and raised absolutely no objection in any case. It's known that we have close and trustful relations with all our partners in the region, and I've not heard anyone say that the visit raises the slightest problem.
Q - The debate about the use of atomic weapons in the event of bacteriological attack has surfaced again in the U.S. What is France's position?
I have no particular comment on this debate in the U.S. France's position was stated by the head of state in his speech to IHEDN when he very carefully explained the types of threats that our nuclear deterrence is designed to stop.
Q - There are two confirmed cases of anthrax in Florida. It's also being said that these people might have contracted the disease from mail sent through the post. Are you concerned for public safety? Are you going to take additional precautions?
The government and Interior Ministry are taking all the pertinent steps advisable in liaison with the Defense Ministry.
Chairman Arafat's statements in Cairo yesterday bear witness to the courageous commitment of the Palestinian Authority to respect the September 26 agreement to achieve a cease-fire and reestablish the conditions for political dialogue with Israel. Significant actions have been carried out by the Palestinian Authority on security. We would like to see Israel implement immediately its part of the commitments, especially concerning improvements in the living conditions of the people and the withdrawal of its military forces from the autonomous territories.
Q - Have you any comment on the crackdown by Palestinian police against the demonstrators in Gaza?
They are regrettable acts of violence which attest to the tension in the Palestinian Territories. It is in the interest of all to help ease the tension and facilitate a return to a true political process which is the best way to reduce the tension.
Q - There've been demonstrations at the same time in Indonesia, in Pakistan, people have died in those countries. Do you have any reaction? Are you worried about this?
No. It's a situation we had anticipated. We know that the fight against terrorism, which is inevitable, is going to be exploited by all those who have an interest, for one reason or another, in trying to get the situation to evolve toward a head-on clash between modes of living, modes of civilization, ways of thinking, religions. We know that that is probably one of the objectives pursued by the Al Qaeda organization. We are determined, for our part, to continue doing everything possible to avoid that trap, particularly by refusing to equate one thing with another.
President Compaoré will be making an official visit to France from October 11 to 21 at President Chirac's invitation.
The official part of the visit will run from October 11 to 16 inclusive, and will include a meeting followed by a luncheon with the president on October 12. President Compaoré will meet with the prime minister on the 15th. There will be an official dinner chaired by Charles Josselin on October 12 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Compaoré will meet with the speakers of the Senate and National Assembly and with French businessmen. He will also visit the French Academy and meet with academics at the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies.
President Compaoré will continue his visit with a private program that will give him an opportunity to meet with French communities involved in decentralized cooperation with Burkina Faso (particularly the city of Rouen and the Seine-Maritime general council, the city of Lyons and the Rhône-Alpes regional council). In Poitiers, the president of Burkina Faso will take part in the third series of meetings on non-governmental cooperation between France and Burkina Faso after he visits the cities twinned with cities in his country.
The whole range of subjects of mutual interest will be addressed during the visit: international and regional questions and bilateral relations. May I remind you that France is Burkina Faso's principal partner in regard to both trade and development assistance. Our bilateral cooperation, over 60 million euros a year, represents more than a fifth of the total bilateral assistance Burkina Faso receives. The aid is organized by a framework partnership document drafted at a meeting of the joint France-Burkina Faso committee in March 1999 which sets out the main lines of our cooperation for the 2000-2005 period.
For more information, I refer you to the Ministry's Internet site (www.france.diplomatie.gouv.fr)
The European Union foreign ministers, meeting at the GAC in Luxembourg on October 8, decided to immediately recall for consultations all the European ambassadors in Eritrea. Our ambassador, Louis le Vert, is due to leave Asmara this evening.
This measure follows on the Eritrean authorities' refusal, in spite of our requests, to reverse their decision to expel the Italian Ambassador in Asmara who represented the European Union presidency on the spot. The expulsion has gravely harmed our relations with Eritrea.
The General Affairs Council underlined the EU's concern at the recent repressive measures taken against political figures and the independent press. We reaffirmed the commitment of the Fifteen to foster development and democratization in Eritrea. France and the European Union are now forced to re-examine their relations with Eritrea in the light of the Cotonou accord.
Q - We had a report from our wire service yesterday that a helicopter was shot down in Abkhazia--it was carrying U.N. observers and there was a French national among them. Is it true?
I have no confirmation that a French national was among the nine killed in the UNOMIG helicopter which was downed in Abkhazia yesterday. According to a French military source, it was actually said today that there were no French nationals among the victims. We have strongly condemned this attack. We have demanded that UNOMIG be able to continue its activities in safety.
Q - What is France's attitude towards this conflict which has begun between Georgia and Abkhazia?
It's an old conflict. France is responsible for the interest that the U.N. has taken in resolving this conflict. Locally we chair the group of friends of the secretary-general for Georgia, we consider that this is a conflict which must be resolved through dialogue not violence, and with respect for Georgia's territorial integrity. At this time, tension seems to be on the rise and so we urge especially all those who have influence over developments of the situation to show restraint and to encourage all the forces operating in the sector to show greater restraint.
Q - What is the French government's reaction to U.S. statements about reserving the right to strike other terrorist groups and other states when they've "finished" with Afghanistan?
There's nothing new in them. Resolution 1368 of September 12 offers Security Council cover to actions taken in response to the September attacks which are acts threatening international peace and security. The Council recognized that the right of individual and collective self defense could be invoked.
Q - Does the U.N. have the same list of terrorist organizations as the Americans?
With regard to asset-blocking, the American list was adopted as it stood by France in the interest of efficiency, and we proposed to the Fifteen that they endorse it. The U.N. sanctions committee adopted the same list, also in the interest of efficiency. Now, we must move onto the next phase which is to consider how to coordinate so as to be most effective and tie in the FATF efforts I mentioned earlier with those laid down in resolution 1373 which has established a follow-up mechanism.
Q - But has the list of terrorist organizations published by the U.S. been adopted to justify an American strike against one or another country or organization?
The list was endorsed by the sanctions committee in the context of resolution 1373.
Q - In the minds of the French and in the text, does resolution 1368 mean that the U.S. can attack in self-defense not only Afghanistan but any other country it considered to be helping terrorists?
On this, I refer you to statements by French authorities which are very clear. In any case, if the U.S. asks for a strike elsewhere, we will have to retain our authority to consider it.
Q - The U.S. deputy defense secretary said that Iraq would be a target at some point or other. What is the French position?
As the minister said, at no time have we had any information linking Iraq to the September 11 attacks. The competent American authorities have never made that assumption in their meetings with us.
Q - What meaning do you see in the letter from the American ambassador to the U.N. on this?
I've already replied. There's nothing new there.
Q - So why was it sent?
The U.S. and Britain informed the Security Council in accordance with article 51 of the Charter which provides that measures taken by members in the exercise of their right of self defense shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. In letters of October 7, the U.S. and Britain accordingly informed the Security Council of the launch of military operations against bin Laden-network terrorist training camps and the Taliban regime's military installations in Afghanistan.
The Security Council met on October 8 to hear about these actions by American and British forces against Afghanistan, with the contribution and support of other U.N. member states. As you know, the legitimacy of this action was unanimously recognized; several delegations emphasized that the actions should remain targeted, and the president of the Council made a statement to the press in this regard.
The letter from the U.S. was sent because under article 51 of the Charter it has to inform the U.N. of everything it's doing or plans to do.
Q - So you're confirming that if tomorrow the U.S. wants to undertake military action against another party, an organization or a country, it's exempt from having to ask for Security Council permission?
I didn't say that. I said that resolution 1368 concerns the attack against the U.S. on September 11. We have had elements that we considered convincing showing that attack was carried out by the bin Laden organization. At this time, the organization's main headquarters and its principal leaders and resources are now in Afghanistan. That's all.
Q - France has always played a moderating role in the approaches to terrorism, and now you're in the coalition. The Americans are consulting with you one hour before striking a target. Do you have the means to influence the decision-making power of the U.S. before they hit a target or before they move on to the next stage?
We're in continual contact with the Americans at many levels. That said, this operation is being led by the U.S. That's logical since it was the U.S. that was attacked on September 11. The Americans want to retain and build up as broad a political coalition as possible as much as they also want, as the minister said, to keep their hands as free as possible in their operational actions on the ground.
Q - Pakistan is a key element in the international coalition. The Pakistani president has made a change in the leadership of the military forces. Do you believe that the situation in Pakistan is stable with what's happening in public opinion and public support for bin Laden?
We hope in any case that the Pakistani authorities' efforts are successful and that the situation remains stable. It's not my place to provide a more specific assessment on a foreign country's internal situation.
Q - The French authorities said the U.S. had made further requests to France. Can you give us more details?
First, I don't wish to go into too much detail. Essentially the requests concern Navy and logistical cooperation.
With regard to your second question, resolution 1368 does not explicitly mention chapter 7 of the Charter but it mentions article 51, i.e. the inherent right of individual or collective self defense, in accordance with the Charter. Article 51 is part of Chapter 7.
Q - What is France's position regarding the possible inclusion of European terrorist organizations, including ETA, on a list whose funds would be frozen?
It's a Spanish proposal made at the GAC. Our position was given in point 5 of the summary of the GAC conclusions. On one hand, we are determined to attack the sources of terrorist financing and to fight terrorism in all its forms; on the other, the Commission has taken measures to freeze the holdings identified by the sanctions commission in the context of resolution 1373. For us, the priority in terms of efficiency was that. That's the situation.
No one can doubt our resolve to fight all forms of terrorism in Europe. At the GAC on October 8, the greatest urgency, we thought, was to see that international action was coherent, whether in the sanctions committee, in France, in the U.S. or at the level of the Fifteen. So we proposed that initially we agree at the European level on freezing the assets of persons identified by the sanctions committee, without prejudice to other measures that we are also going to discuss. Because the fight against terrorism, once again, is going to take a long time./.
Embassy of France, October 9, 2001
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