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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.] GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and European Affairs Minister Noëlle Lenoir will attend the general affairs-external relations council in Brussels on July 22.
Under horizontal questions, the council will begin by hearing a presentation by the Danish EU presidency of its working program, especially with regard to enlargement. It will continue with an examination of the progress of work in other council groups and the follow-up to the European council in Seville, particularly reform of the council work.
The presidency will then lead a debate on the geographic priorities of the EU regarding conflict-prevention. Ministers will review the situation in the western Balkans and Afghanistan before considering the humanitarian situation in southern Africa. Recent developments in the situation in Zimbabwe will then be discussed. In the context of the trade dispute with the U.S. over steel, ministers will examine measures to be taken in the light of an assessment by the commission. Lastly, a report on preparations for the Johannesburg summit on sustainable development will be presented by the presidency.
At the working luncheon ministers will focus on the situation in the Middle East and European security and defense policy. Relations between India and Pakistan and the dispute between Spain and Morocco will also be on the agenda.
On the sidelines of the GAC, association councils will be held on July 23 with Kirghizstan and Kazakhstan.
While in Brussels for the general affairs-external relations council, Mr. de Villepin will have a working luncheon with his British counterpart, Peter Hain, and also meetings with Jani Villen and Dick Roche, European Affairs Ministers of Finland and Ireland respectively. For his first contact with his European partners, the minister will discus the main current issues.
Q - What is France's reaction after the statements by the Moroccan foreign minister saying that if the Spanish left, they wouldn't reoccupy the island?
We said yesterday that in our view the situation is clear; there has to be a return to the status quo ante.
Q - The Morocan foreign minister will be here today for a press conference. Is he going to meet members of the government or French dignitaries?
Mr. Benaissa, Moroccan Foreign Minister, has scheduled a press conference today at the foriegn press center in Paris. There is no direct meeting planned with the French authorities because, as you know, the president is in Russia and the minister is in Africa. Having said that, we are maintaining regular contact with the Moroccan and Spanish authorities. We earnestly hope that a speedy settlement can be found for the consequences of the territorial incident, involving the island of Perejil/Leila, between these two countries which are friends of France, in the interest of easing tensions and cooperation.
Q - Is Mr. Benaissa going to other countries or just France?
According to what I've seen in the press, he's planning to go other countries but you should ask him or the Moroccan Embassy in France.
Q - He's not even seeing a senior official or the secretary-general of the Quai d'Orsay?
Mr. Benaissa is a minister. No direct contact is planned.
Q - And with legislators?
Not that I'm aware of.
Q - Do you consider that Denmark has taken a different position to France's in this matter?
The question doesn't come up in those terms. There are the CFSP rules. The presidency has certain responsibilities that it exercises in the framework of the CFSP rules, and these are discussed quite normally in the appropriate bodies in Brussels. That is what happened. What France wants is peace. The conditions for that are clear, perhaps even clearer today: the return to the status quo that existed before. Our priority, in this context, in the European Union, as I said yesterday, is to see tensions eased, see a return to good neighborly relations between Spain and Morocco and avoid any initiative that would go in the opposite direction.
Q - About the regular contacts. Have there been regular contacts in the past 24 hours? Does France have reasons to be encouraged on the basis of its contacts in the past 24 hours? Have there been contacts at another level?
Subject to verification, I have no knowledge of any new contact at ministerial level or above since yesterday. With that said, as you know the president is in Sochi and the minister in Luanda. There are always contacts at staff level.
Q - The Greeks have just arrested the leader of the November 17 movement. He's a dual citizen of France and Greece; his wife was questioned and released. Has there been any contact with the French consular authorities? How are you planning to deal with the matter?
At this time I have no information other than that given by the Greek authorities.
All I can say is that we are closely following the results registered by the Greek police latterly in the fight against terrorism, especially in dismantling the November 17 terrorist movement. As you know, the relevant services in France have cooperated and are continuing to do so to help the Greek police with exchanges of information. There is good cooperation between our services, and we support the Greek government in its fight against terrorism. As for information about an individual, I have to refer you the Interior Ministry for that. The only element I have today is that we know the teacher at the Franco-Hellenic lycée in Athens whom you referred to; she taught at the school until 1996.
Q - The Interior Ministry said we should go to the Justice Ministry, and we're still waiting there.
When inquiries are under way, you have to let the justice people do their job. That's an important principle.
Q - According to the Greek press, there may still be French people involved in the Giapopoulous movement who might still be living in France today. Are you looking into it?
The relevant services are working with the Greek police and exchanging information. There is close cooperation between our services and we support the Greek government in its fight against terrorism. You may be quite sure our people are working on this matter.
Q - Is France aware of these activities?
It is not our practice to comment on intelligence matters at press briefings. It's a question for the Interior Ministry.
Q - There's no mention of Kaliningrad on the GAC program on July 22 yet there's a meeting in Brussels tomorrow between the EU and the Russians to discuss it. Is there anything new?
I believe it may be because there's a meeting of experts on Monday that ministers haven't put it on the agenda.
Q - They don't have to have a common position?
The Commission is working closely on Kaliningrad in accordance with its mandate. For our part, as you know, France is in the lead in seeking a solution. There's also a round of talks that have to be followed, and the new elements will come just after that. With that said, there's nothing to prevent the question from being addressed under the heading of miscellaneous items at some point of other. It's a very important question. As you know, President Jacques Chirac is currently in Russia with President Putin and they're bound to discuss it.
Q - What is France's position on Moussaoui who's just admitted his responsibility in the September 11 attacks? Knowing France's position, what action can France take? Is it going to seek extradition if he's sentenced to death?
That's a purely hypothetical question.
Q - Yes but still?
The matter is in the hands of American judicial officials and comes under the Justice Ministry.
Mr. Moussaoui is being tried in the U.S. We have a general position on the death penalty: We oppose it. That holds true for Mr. Moussaoui. The American authorities have been clearly informed of this.
Q - A few days ago, Mr. Moussaoui asked to meet with a French diplomat. Has he made any specific requests? Can you tell us about them? What did he ask for?
Mr. Moussaoui asked to have the benefit of French consular protection. This was granted and, as we've said, the consulate general in Washington has asked to be able to visit Mr. Moussaoui according to the usual rules for consular protection, as for everyone. I understand that depending on the practical arrangements, the visit could take place this afternoon.
Q - What advantages do people have under consular protection?
These are stipulated in the 1963 Vienna Convention. Article 34: contacts, checking on the conditions of detention and trial.
Q - Will the question of Iraq be taken up in Brussels on Monday?
It's not on the agenda. However it can't be ruled out; ministers may decide to talk about it but in principle, it's not scheduled.
Q - Do you know anything about the meetings with Mr. Blix?
It was an interesting meeting allowing us to review progress and preparations for UNMOVIC with regard to its mission, and also to re-state the high priority we give to the inspectors' return without hindrance, in the conditions set by the Security Council.
Q - Reading between the lines, will UNMOVIC be better than UNSCOM?
That is indeed one of the elements in our position. It's well-known and not necessary to repeat it every time because the main thing today is the inspectors' return.
We made the point at the time that it was important for UNMOVIC not to repeat certain UNSCOM errors and that the way the missions functioned had to be improved. That's still true, it's not new and doesn't need to be repeated each time.
Q - How would you describe the Israeli policy of destroying homes and expelling the families of suicide bombers to Gaza?
I understand that no definite decisions have been taken yet and that consultations, legal consultations especially, are taking place in Israel. I recall that the fourth Geneva Convention applies. That is all I can say at this stage.
Q - Isn't expelling West Bank Palestinians to Gaza the beginning of a policy of transfer?
As I said before, I can't take a position at this time on what is supposition and speculation.
Q - Even so can you say that France condemns all collective punishment and expulsions which would be contrary to the fourth Geneva Convention?
I can say that the fourth Geneva Convention applies. There are no grounds for condemning something hypothetical.
Q - Do you have any information about the latest meeting of the Quartet? Is there anything concrete? What's the situation? Is there an agreement? This morning, President Bush and the Americans announced there would be a Palestinian state within three years?
I am obliged to refer you to the communiqué issued by the Quartet which is very interesting. In our view, the Quartet is playing a vital political role. It's initiated a working process which is very important. Moreover, I think that the discussions at the GAC in Brussels on Monday will focus on the Quartet's statement and how to respond.
So I think we'll have to wait for the next meeting in Brussels on Monday to learn what comes next.
Q - I have a little question about the Geneva Convention. Is destroying houses considered to be contrary to the Geneva Convention or not? Is it a violation?
The answer is given, I think, in Article 147 of the Convention which refers to the "extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly."/.
Embassy of France, July 19, 2002
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