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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.] ALLIANCE FRANCAISE
Foreign Minister Michel Barnier extends his warmest congratulations and best wishes for success to Jean-Pierre de Launoit, president of the Alliance française de Bruxelles-Europe, on his election to the chair of the board of trustees of the Alliance française de Paris which met on June 29.
His election demonstrates the resolve of the leaders of this great association to open the network of several thousand committees scattered around the five continents to European and French-speaking partners.
The minister also pays tribute to the action carried out over the last ten years by outgoing president Jacques Viot, Ambassador of France, to promote the French language and culture abroad.
Let me remind you that that there are close to 800 Alliances françaises in the world teaching French to some 400,000 people. Over 280 institutions have conventions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whereby they receive active assistance, including more than 300 administrative staff detached from the Ministry.
We have noted with satisfaction the various initiatives that have led to the resumption of discussions between the Ivorian parties to overcome the obstacles placed in the way of the peace process. The process is in line with the results of the Security Council mission to Abidjan on June 23 which called on all the parties to re-launch the process of reconciliation.
Q - Doesn’t the fact that the Ivorian rebel movement, which holds half the country, is absent from the current negotiations between Gbagbo and the opposition leave a question mark over any solution to the crisis?
I refer you to the statement I have just made.
(...)
We call on all the parties to take their place immediately in the current discussions.
We heard with sadness about the helicopter accident in Sierra Leone yesterday in which 24 people lost their lives, including UNAMSIL peacekeepers and humanitarian workers. We extend our condolences to the victims’ families and our full support to the United Nations Mission and humanitarian personnel who are performing difficult missions in Sierra Leone in the service of peace and the stabilization of that country.
Q - Deposed President Saddam Hussein was transferred to Iraqi legal custody on Wednesday. Do you have any comment? Does France now want him to be tried by an international court or a court with an international component?
We have taken note that the American administration, which granted Saddam Hussein prisoner-of-war status, today handed the former dictator over to the Iraqi authorities so that he may be brought to justice.
As we have already stated, it is for the Iraqi people to try Saddam Hussein in a trial that must obey the rules of international law.
Q - What is the status of diplomatic relations between France and Iraq now that power has been transferred? Will France have an ambassador in Iraq and vice versa?
Since Iraq broke off diplomatic relations on February 8, 19991, France has had an Interests Section in Baghdad.
As the minister said yesterday, “We are prepared to quickly restore, in consultation with the Iraqi authorities, our diplomatic relations with the Republic of Iraq.”
Q - According to Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar, the executive in Baghdad approved the restoration of the death penalty in Iraq after the transfer of power. Any comment? Might the death penalty now be applied to Saddam Hussein? What is France’s position on this?
You know the position we take in principle on the death penalty.
We are opposed to the application of the death penalty in all circumstances.
(...)
Q - Can you confirm that France is insisting that the post of European commissioner for competition go to Frenchman Jacques Barrot, current commissioner for regional policy, in the new team of Portuguese José Manuel Durao Barroso?
I cannot confirm anything. As you know, the decision belongs to the president of the Commission.
(...)
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Embassy of France, June 30, 2004
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