… Russia
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson – April 23, 2007
Q: How do you assess the current hardening of Russian positions on both the missile shield plan in Poland and the Czech Republic, and on Kosovo?
It is not for me make general comments on Russia’s stance. We have detailed dialogue with our Russian partners on the questions you raised and on others, particularly those addressed in the Security Council. When differences in approach emerge, we consider they should be resolved through close consultations.
With regard to the American missile defense project, President Chirac insisted in March on the fact that it should not sow new divisions in Europe. We hope that the questions the project has raised are discussed, particularly with Russia. The current high-level bilateral contacts contribute in this regard to greater transparency as did the NATO Council/Russia meeting held on April 19. The question is due to be discussed again at the NATO ministerial meeting in Oslo on April 26.
With regard to Kosovo, a meeting of the Contact Group at experts’ level was held in Moscow on Friday, April 20. It was an opportunity for talks with our partners, particularly Russia, on the settlement of this issue. There’s also a Security Council mission due to go to Pristina and Belgrade in a few days. The talks will be continuing in New York where we hope to see a resolution adopted.
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson – April 26, 2007
Q: Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced Thursday the “direct” interference of western countries in Russia’s internal affairs via a growing “flow” of financial support for the opposition and NGOs. What’s your reaction?
I’m not going to comment on President Putin’s statements.
As far as we are concerned, we have always pleaded for NGOs to be able to carry out their activities in Russia within their area of competence, with due respect for the rules of the Constitution and in accordance with the commitments Russia undertook in the framework of the OSCE. Without there being any question of interference, dialogue between civil societies can make a useful contribution to the consolidation of democracy in Russia.
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson – April 27, 2007
Q: Do you have any comment on Russia, on Mr. Lavrov’s statements about Russia’s moratorium on the CFE treaty?
The Russian authorities have raised the possibility of a moratorium on Russia’s application of the treaty while calling on NATO to hold discussions in the NATO-Russian Council. The Russian authorities are considering the possibility of pulling Russia out of its obligations under the treaty. For France and its allies, the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe is a cornerstone of security in Europe. It constitutes in particular a unique legal and political framework organizing security on our continent.
We shall naturally continue to discuss questions relating to the CFE treaty and the agreement on adaptation in the NATO/Russia Council. We shall also continue to discuss in this same framework American projects for missile defense against the ballistic missile threat from the Middle East. We hope that this dialogue will dispel the misunderstandings and that Russia will go back on the announcement it made yesterday.
Q: In France’s view, it’s certain that the missile system is intended to stop missiles from the Middle East?
These are different issues. There is the CFE treaty, which deals with conventional forces, and the missile defense system. On our side we make no link between these two questions. It’s the Russians who tend to establish a link. (…)
We have taken note of the explanations given by the Americans, which are the reason for the project, bearing in mind, as we’ve said repeatedly, that we are not involved in the proposed American missile defense system.
Q : What is France’s position on the proposed missile defense system?
We’ve already spoken of it several times. It is an American project on which the Americans are having a number of bilateral contacts, specifically with the Czech Republic and Poland.
We are not directly involved in the project. We have no intention of taking part in this American project. What we’re simply saying is that it needs to be discussed, especially with the Russians,\ since they’ve expressed concerns and asked questions. This has started to be done in the NATO/Russia Council. There’ve been a number of exchanges in this forum, and we hope they will continue because, even though it’s a bilateral project, there are implications for the security of the Europeans, and they must be discussed.
We have no reservations or opposition to the project but we hope that its implications for security are discussed among Europeans and especially with the Russians. This is what has started to happen the NATO/Russia Council.
Q: There’s a sense of a shift concerning Russia. I’m thinking of yesterday’s statement on the financing of NGOs, the accusations Mr. Putin made yesterday, the statement today about the CFE treaty. Is there a growing concern in France with respect to Russian policy?
I don’t believe it would make much sense to make a generalized statement or an overall judgment of Russian policy. I think one should distinguish between the various issues. Yesterday, we had a question about the NGOs and we said that NGOs should be able to play their role in Russia as they do in other countries, and that it seemed perfectly normal to us for there to be cooperation between civil societies.
The CFE treaty is another problem. This is a treaty that’s been signed, which commit the signatories, and we’re simply saying that we hope there isn’t a moratorium on Russia’s part, that Russia goes back on its decision and respects its commitment.
Also, there’s a whole series of issues on which we are working with Russia, especially the many issues before the Security Council. As you can see, for example, with regard to Iran, we’re working and cooperating very closely with Russia. The group of Six is united and has been working on this issue from the beginning. We’ve had successive resolutions in the Security Council. That’s an example of a question on which we’re working and cooperating very closely and transparently with Russia. There are other examples.
Q: And on Kosovo?
We want to work with Russia on Kosovo. It has started to happen. As you know there is a Security Council mission there at this very time. The question will then go back to New York. It’s clear that on a question like Kosovo, it is necessary to work with the Russians, necessary to engage in dialogue with them.
Our perspective is certainly not one of confrontation with Russia. We’re cooperating with Russia, and when there are elements that call for a reaction on our part, we react. That is actually the case regarding the CFE treaty. I don’t believe you should react simplistically and talk about an air of confrontation or tension with respect to Russia. Once again, it’s important to work with the Russians. It’s important also to strengthen the partnership between the EU and Russia. That is why we’d like to see the mandate for the negotiation of a new agreement unblocked—you know there are number of persisting technical difficulties—and for us to be able to move on to a new stage in EU/Russian relations.
Q: What’s your reaction after Kostunica’s statement proposing supervised autonomy?
As you know, Mr. Draskovic was in Paris yesterday. He had various contacts with French officials. I read his statements that a compromise had to be found for Kosovo. We consider that there is a compromise, that it is the Ahtisaari plan, the draft statute presented by Mr. Ahtisaari which we think is balanced since it takes into account the aspirations of a majority of Kosovars and also the need to protect minorities, provide for a decentralized statute and ties between Serb Kosovar municipalities and Serbia. It is on this basis that we wish to continue working. The Security Council mission on the spot has met with a number of officials. It will be returning to New York, and we hope at that point to be able to move forward on this question and reach a resolution in a few weeks on the questions of Kosovo.
Q: How do you account for the Russian move? Can you reply point by point to the Russian accusations or do you think it’s a question of paranoia on Russia’s part?
Once again, I don’t wish to generalize. I believe it is important for the mindset to be not one of confrontation but rather cooperation and frankness. With regard to the CFE treaty, for example, it is perfectly normal for us to recall the importance of this treaty and the importance for Russia to respect it.
…European Union/Poland
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokes person – April 26, 2007
Q: European Affairs Minister Delegate Catherine Colonna assured Bronislaw Geremek of France’s “support” and announced Thursday that she’d referred the matter to the European Parliament. What can France do to prevent Mr. Geremek from being stripped of his MEP mandate at the request of the Polish authorities?
I will read the communiqué which has just been released.
“Catherine Colonna, Minister Delegate for European Affairs, yesterday telephoned Bronislaw Geremek, a member of the European Parliament and a major figure in Polish democracy, to assure him of her friendly support and solidarity in the current circumstances.
“She is contacting European Parliament Speaker Hans-Gert Pottering to ask him for details about the procedure that is in train.
“A founding member of the European Union and home to the European Parliament, France is particularly vigilant with respect to the fundamental values on which European integration is based.”
As it says in the communiqué, the minister delegate has contacted the European Parliament speaker to ask him for details about a procedure that comes under the Statute of the European legislators.
…Middle East
Press briefing given by Foreign ministry spokesperson – April 24, 2007
Q: With regard to the truce between Palestinians and Israelis, the situation has deteriorated very quickly. The Israelis are threatening to intervene in Gaza, and the Palestinians have begun firing lots of rockets at Israel. How do you see the present situation?
We condemn the Israeli army operation in the West Bank this weekend in which nine people were killed, two of them teenagers. We condemn in the same way the rockets which continue to be aimed almost daily at Israeli territory in violation of the truce.
The rocket fire is a permanent factor of tension in the region. In addition, the statements by the armed wing of Hamas about the truce being over, if confirmed, would obviously be very disturbing.
We call on both sides not to enter into a new spiral of violence but instead to maintain the truce reached in Gaza and to work for its rapid extension to the West Bank. We call on the Palestinian government to do everything possible to ensure the truce with Israel is respected.
Q: On the political level, Europe has just called the Arab peace initiative a very important element for restarting the peace process.
European ministers did indeed give their support yesterday to the Arab peace initiative. A number of contacts are taking place. There were meetings recently between several Arab countries on this question. Of course we support this initiative and we hope that this path will be confirmed, that there will be also some interest in it on the Israeli side, which has already been demonstrated in part by the Israeli authorities. We hope that the initiative will now have practical effects. I believe that Mr. Olmert made a speech yesterday in which he said he was ready to resume political talks. Of course we encourage this development./.
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