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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 welcomes the success of the African military operation which re-established the territorial integrity of the Union of the Comoros without loss of life.
Since the start of the crisis France has given its full support to the legitimate authorities of the Comoros and the African Union. After the failure of the final mediation mission in which we’d participated, we supported the AU operation by providing transport for Tanzanian troops and their equipment.
President Sarkozy received a very warm message from President Sambi the day before yesterday thanking him for France’s action.
In spite of the African intervention, Mr. Bacar was able to leave Anjouan island. He entered Mayotte illegally where he was immediately arrested and disarmed by the French authorities. He is currently in our custody and is to be transferred to Reunion in the next few hours.
Parallel to consideration of his asylum request, given the conditions in which it which it was made, Mr. Bacar will be the object of appropriate judicial procedures.
Q - Can you tell us about the possibility of extraditing Mr. Bacar to the Comoros as Moroni has requested? Are there extradition agreements between the two countries?
There is no extradition agreement between our two countries. For further details I refer you to the Ministry of Justice.
Q - What’s your response to the demonstrations near the French Embassy in Moroni in protest against Mohamed Bacar’s flight? Have French nationals been affected by the demonstrations?
Our embassy has taken the necessary security measures in view of the situation which doesn’t seem to have caused any injuries among our nationals. It issued the usual recommendations to exercise caution in such cases. We are relying on the Comorian authorities to ensure law and order.
(…)
Q - Could you confirm that French diplomats are discussing with their European counterparts the possibility of sending an EU mission to China to talk with the government about the situation in Tibet? What’s the purpose and timetable for such a mission?
The various aspects of this question will be discussed by EU foreign ministers at the informal meeting I told you about earlier [in Slovenia, March 28-29].
Q - Can you confirm that Mr. Kouchner is planning to present a text to the EU meeting in Slovenia on Friday? If so, can you give us the broad outline?
The purpose of Gymnich-type meetings is to let every minister speak informally about his ideas on the various matters under discussion. That is what the minister will be doing with regard to Tibet.
Q - Mr. Siniora’s government has decided to boycott the Arab summit in Damascus. Are you in favor of this policy of leaving the chair empty?
It’s a sovereign decision by the Lebanese authorities.
Q - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday that a complete peace agreement with the Palestinians couldn’t be reached before the end of 2008. Do you believe a Palestinian state will be established before the end of the year as projected at Annapolis?
So far as I know, Mr. Olmert hasn’t ruled out reaching a peace agreement between now and the end of 2008.
France calls on the parties to pursue their discussions so as to reach an agreement, with the international community’s support, before the end of 2008 in accordance with the commitments made at Annapolis—we set great store on these being implemented.
Q - Ehud Olmert said again that the construction of housing in the big settlements blocs on the West Bank and East Jerusalem would continue. Do you have any comment?
Our position is known: France condemns the continuation of settlement activity which undermines the viability of the future Palestinian state. In general we invite the Israeli authorities to refrain from any unilateral action that could prejudge the final status of the Palestinian Territories and bring into question the peace process.
Q - Do you approve of Moscow’s proposal to host the follow-up conference to the peace process launched at Annapolis?
In the wake of the conferences in Annapolis and Paris, we are favorably disposed to the principle of an international conference on the Mideast peace process in Moscow.
This conference will however be useful only if the parties actually comply with the commitments made at Annapolis and progress is seen on the ground and in the daily lives of the Palestinian people.
Q - What are the reasons France abstained in the vote in the Council of the European Union on milk quotas?
It is the economic situation of production in this sector that led France to abstain./.
Embassy of France, March 27, 2008
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