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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/SYRIA/LEBANON
The French minister for foreign and European affairs, Bernard Kouchner, and the Syrian minister for foreign affairs, Walid al-Mouallem had a bilateral meeting at the expanded conference of Iraq’s neighbors held in Kuwait on April 22.
During their meeting, Mr. Kouchner and Mr. al-Mouallem held a useful review of a number of regional questions, in particular the political crisis in Lebanon and questions of interest to the French-Syrian relations. Speaking frankly, the two ministers compared the respective views of France and Syria on these questions and the way to resolve them
Q - Who asked for the meeting, France or Syria?
It was by mutual agreement. Ministers often meet on the sidelines of international conferences. They decided to see each other by mutual agreement.
Q - It’s interesting for us to know because the regional press says that Syria sent a message to Mr. Kouchner to arrange a meeting.
So far as I know, it was by mutual agreement.
Q - When you say “frankly” in diplomatic language, does that mean there were different points of view?
You know perfectly well that there are different points of view, that’s why the interest is in speaking franking. That’s what it means.
Q - So there was no significant progress after the meeting?
Both men laid out their positions. The minister recalled our commitment to the Arab League plan for resolving the crisis in Lebanon.
Q - A decision was made not to have diplomatic relations with Syria. Then the minister met with his Syrian counterpart. Has there been progress to make the meeting possible?
It was decided to suspend high-level contacts, that is, at Elysée level. That’s one thing. And there are the normal diplomatic contacts that occur at international meetings. The one doesn’t prevent the other. When President Sarkozy decided to suspend high-level contacts, that didn’t exclude meetings between ministers at international conferences. I would also remind you that we have an ambassador in Damascus who has contacts with the Syrian authorities every day.
Q - Does this mark the resumption of ministerial contacts?
There’s no resumption of high-level contacts, but so far as I know the word “ministerial” had not been used.
Q - When you say “high level” do you mean between the Elysée and the Syrian authorities?
The decision to suspend high-level contacts at the president’s level and his closest advisers’. Once again this doesn’t prevent contacts at the level of our ambassador in Damascus and ministers when they’re at international meetings. That’s diplomatic life.
(…)
Q - Can we expect there to be a meeting with the Iranians like the one the minister had with his Syrian counterpart?
As is always the case on the sidelines of international meetings, it is quite possible, I even believe a meeting between the French and Iranian foreign ministers is planned.
Q - For when?
We’re talking today about Kuwait.
Q - Syria and Iran weren’t invited to the meeting on Lebanon. At the same time you’re having bilateral meetings?
They’re two different things. There was a meeting on Lebanon in the format I told you about yesterday. And also during this ministerial conference, contacts between the ministers.
Q - How does France interpret the latest Hamas statement on the Palestinian state and the refusal to recognize Israel? Do you think there’s a change or that things haven’t changed?
Our position with respect to Hamas, which is also the European Union’s, has not changed: We call on Hamas to respect the Quartet principles and firstly to renounce violence. With that said, any specific act by Hamas which might go in the direction of renouncing violence must be encouraged, and so we encourage any approach which, like Mr. Carter’s, might help effect such a change in Hamas.
Q - Can we have your comments on the reports prepared by the UN secretary concerning resolution 1559?
It’s one of the things the minister might be asked to comment on in Kuwait. With that said, the report recognizes the facts of the situation showing that we have to continue to do everything we can to implement the resolutions of the United Nations.
Q - The Chinese ambassador to France went to the trouble of writing a very threatening letter saying that the decision by the City of Paris to make the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen will constitute a very negative precedent and also can only make the situation in Tibet worse. Do you have a comment? Also, from a purely technical point of view, has the Chinese ambassador presented his credentials and is he authorized to speak?
Regarding your last point, I’ll have to look into it. As for your first question, the letter wasn’t sent to the French authorities, the national authorities, but to the city’s elected officials. I’ve not read it and I’ve nothing to say other than to recall the messages we’ve sent over the past few days about both the situation in Tibet and Hu Jia’s situation. I would remind you in particular of the communiqué from the minister and Rama Yade about Hu Jia’s situation. What is decided at City Hall in Paris is a matter for City Hall. It is not our place to interfere in decisions that are taken by the City of Paris.
Q - So China is wrong to draw the consequences since the matter concerns only the City of Paris?
That’s your interpretation, but when the City of Paris takes any decision that may interest China, it is perfectly normal for the Chinese ambassador to France to react. I would not say he is right or wrong. What I’m saying is that this matter concerns City Hall, and I’ve told you our positions with regard to the situation in Tibet and Hu Jia.
Q - How would you describe current relations between France and China?
We have very close relations and a comprehensive strategic partnership with China. It’s also in the context of this partnership that the president’s diplomatic adviser is going to Beijing this week.
For the rest, we’ve seen demonstrations in one place and another, admittedly, in the past few weeks. Preparations for the Olympic Games have given rise to certain demonstrations but there is on our part a wish to calm things and have dialogue, and we hope the situation will quickly return to one of calm.
Q - Are you advocating then a return to normal?
As I said yesterday, we hope that things will calm down. Our ambassador spoke about this in Beijing. On Saturday--as I mentioned yesterday in response to a question--the minister received an envoy from the president of the People’s Republic of China.
Our relations exist, they’re close and we hope the situation will quickly quieten down.
I feel this wish on the French side, and I also sense it on the Chinese side. I imagine you saw as I did the AFP report this morning which said, and I quote: “China expressed disapproval Tuesday for ‘certain individual radical acts’ committed during the anti-Western demonstrations which have taken place in the past few days across the country.” The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Jiang Yu, said, and I quote: “Recently some Chinese, including students, spontaneously launched protest actions and calls for a boycott of French products. We think they can express their patriotism in a legal and reasonable way. We don’t agree with certain individual radical acts which have taken place at these demonstrations.”
As you see, these comments, like mine, show that relations between the Chinese and French peoples, between the People’s Republic of China and France, are those of frankness and friendship.
Q - Have you noticed any effect on the sale of French products in China?
The answer is no.
Q - Has France through its embassy issued any particular advisories to businesses operating there or that have invested there given the demonstrations? Secondly has France protested against some of the demonstrations like the swastikas on French flags and the questioning of Joan of Arc’s morality?
To take your first question, there are no advisories but there are permanent contacts between our embassy and businessmen, French businesses, which are extremely active and present, as you could tell from the press over the last few days. And so far as we know at this point, there’s been no impact on sales and economic and commercial exchanges at this time.
As for your second question I refer you to what I said yesterday in response to a question about the demonstrations. We call for calm and dialogue, and we deeply regret all these actions--this is very much what the Chinese spokeswoman, my counterpart, said--which do not contribute to calm and dialogue.
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Q - You suggest that the City of Paris is a country apart, but this has repercussions for you, you have to handle this situation. Are you handling it or is Paris truly a country apart?
No, Paris is not a country apart, but local communities are completely independent and so what communities, what municipalities do is their own responsibility. This is part of the relationship between the French state and local authorities. It’s not my responsibility as the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. It’s not our place to interfere in decisions taken by the City of Paris.
(…)
Q - In his letter the ambassador says there will be an impact, consequences for French-Chinese relations and that this is going to damage the trust between the People’s Republic of China and France.
That’s what the ambassador says. I’ve not seen the letter which wasn’t addressed to us. I simply refer you to what we’re saying and telling the Chinese authorities with whom we’re in touch all the time. As I’ve already said, the minister met with the envoy of the president of the People’s Republic of China, and may I also remind you that he spoke with his counterpart on the phone last week. We’re calling for calm and dialogue. The comments made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman show that we’re entirely on the same line.
Q - The ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, who arrived in France in early March, is still waiting for the ceremony to present his letters of credence. Is this delay normal?
Yes, I assure you. It’s perfectly normal. The waits are always long. Once we know when it’s to take place, we’ll tell you.
Q - What were the minister’s last contacts and what’s happening with the interministerial work?
FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf is in Paris and saw the minister yesterday. He’s due to see the president today.
On April 8 at a press briefing with you, the minister called attention to the seriousness of the global food crisis driven by the steady rise in prices of foodstuffs. At the time he wanted to see a strong, swift reaction and international mobilization. On his initiative and with Michel Barnier, an interministerial working group was set up to consider the solutions we might propose.
We certainly believe it’s essential to act and to react as a matter of urgency, and that it’s primarily a food crisis, but also a long-term one.
In the short term, President Sarkozy announced a twofold increase in our food aid. The minister discussed the possibility of mid- and long-term actions at his meeting with Mr. Diouf. He emphasized in particular the importance of a European debate and possibly a European initiative to advance the idea of a global partnership for food security. He also stressed the need to think about innovative methods of financing.
Thanks for asking this question because the global food crisis is one of the major issues in world affairs at this time.
Q - The minister referred several times to measures he thought were necessary, concerning sovereign funds for setting up a global food fund. (…) Could you tell us a little more of what he’s basically thinking?
(…) The measures you’re referring to are part of the current debate.
Q - What are the details in the resolution you want about piracy?
Our ambassador to the UN spoke about this yesterday.
In the wake of the unhappy affair last week and based on proposals made by the foreign and European affairs minister, President Sarkozy has proposed that resolutions be adopted in the UN Security Council. The idea is to discuss together the best ways to deal with piracy, and we think the UN is an important framework for this. The aim is specifically to crack down on acts of piracy by establishing a right to follow from the high seas into territorial waters and to prevent acts of piracy. We’re in contact with our partners in New York. A draft is under discussion.
As you know, we’d already taken an initiative with respect to acts of piracy: to help World Food Program ships deliver food aid to Somalia, we’d offered to escort them to prevent acts of piracy—and since the French ships there are now Danish ships.
More generally, and after what just happened to a Spanish tuna boat, we’d like to get to a vote very quickly at the UN--we’ll also have to confer with our European partners—on texts to prevent these acts of piracy and stop them.
We’ll also be considering better exchanges of information about the presence of boats in international waters, the possibility of the right to follow, and so on. These are issues under discussion now, and I hope we’ll have operational instruments very soon.
Q - ”Very soon” means when?
As soon as possible.
Q - About the Spanish boat. Were you asked to help?
Yes. The Spanish foreign minister discussed this with the minister and requested our operational support. I refer you to the Defense Ministry since it’s a matter of cooperation between the chiefs of staff./.
Embassy of France, April 22, 2008
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