…Greece
Communiqué issued by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner (August 25, 2007)
“The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, called Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Saturday, August 25, to express his deep distress and France’s solidarity in the face of the fires that are currently raging in the Peloponnese which have caused many victims.
“Mr. Kouchner sent a message of condolence and support to his Greek colleague, to the victims' families and friends, and to the Greek government. In sending two Canadair planes to Greece today France wanted to actively stand with Greece at this painful time.
“Mr. Kouchner told Ms Bakoyannis that he would stay in close touch with her, in liaison with his colleagues in the French government, in order to examine Greece’s eventual needs in confronting this tragedy.”
…India
PStatement made by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner (August 27, 2007)
“I was horrified to learn of the attack which struck civilians in Hyderabad and which we condemn in the strongest possible terms. I offer my condolences to the victims’ families and friends. I assure the Indian authorities of France’s solidarity and sympathy.”
…Afghanistan/South Korea
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson (August 29, 2007)
France welcomes the release of three of the South Korean hostages held by the Taliban and calls for the release of the other hostages. It renews its sympathy and solidarity to the hostages’ families and loved ones and to the Afghan and Korean authorities in this ordeal.
…Afghanistan
Statement made by Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs (August 31, 2007)
“I am delighted that all the South Korean hostages have been released. My thoughts go out to the families and loved ones of the two hostages assassinated. France renews its call for all the other hostages, Afghan and foreign, to be released.”
Is France planning to redeploy its combat planes in Afghanistan? Do you have any comment? How do you explain today’s decision?
I refer you to what the Defense Ministry spokesman said yesterday on the matter.
I would also remind you what the president said Monday, in his speech to the ambassadors: "Our duty, the duty of the Atlantic Alliance, is to step up our efforts in Afghanistan.” He added: “With Bernard Kouchner and the prime minister, I have decided to strengthen the presence of our trainers in the Afghan army.”
This is the context of the redeployment of the air assets you’re referring to. And again I refer you to statements by the Defense Ministry spokesman.
…Iran/Nuclear issue
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson (August 29, 2007)
Q: After yesterday’s statements by the Iranian president and his American counterpart on the Iranian nuclear issues, what is France’s position? Do you think the discussions on a new sanctions resolution should be speeded up? Do you still believe in the effectiveness of sanctions?
So long as Iran has not agreed to suspend its sensitive activities, we will maintain our firm attitude in conformity with UN Security Council resolutions, in particular by the adoption of new sanctions.
…Turkey
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson (August 30, 2007)
Q: What is France’s reaction to the election of Abdullah Gul as president of Turkey? If I’m not mistaken, there’ve already been reactions from many capitals but not Paris. If that is the case, why?
President Sarkozy sent a message of congratulations to the new Turkish president yesterday.
We welcome the election of Mr. Gul who has always shown himself to be very committed to relations with France and Europe, and we hope that his presidency will serve to strengthen relations between our two countries in a lasting way.
We also hope that with his election the reforms begun in Turkey will continue.
We are convinced that the capacity for dialogue and openness, which Mr. Gul showed in his duties as foreign minister, will again be employed in serving the policy of stability which Turkey pursues in the region and in international forums.
…Kenneth Foster’s death sentence commuted
Statement by Rama Yade, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights (August 31, 2007)
“I was relieved to learn that the Governor of Texas has decided to commute Kenneth Foster’s death sentence to life imprisonment following the exceptionally unusual recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
I am delighted with this decision, having just sent a final appeal to the Governor of Texas in support of commutation a few hours ahead of Mr. Foster’s scheduled execution.
Mr. Foster, 30, had in effect been condemned to death for having neither foreseen nor anticipated that a man he was accompanying would commit a murder, and for having fled with him after the perpetration of this crime.
With the scheduled execution imminent, I had written to Governor Perry asking him to commute the sentence. Since then, I had been following this case on a daily basis. I had also asked for and obtained the European Commission’s intervention on behalf of Mr. Foster.
I will continue my personal involvement in death penalty issues. I want our country, together with our EU partners, to continue working for the universal abolition of the death penalty. I will support any and all initiatives to this end. That is why on October 9 I will travel to Portugal for the next conference organized by the EU Presidency in order to mark, with all the requisite solemnity and gravity, the first European Day Against the Death Penalty.”
…Lebanon
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson (August 31, 2007)
Q: According to one official, the official Syrian press considers that President Sarkozy’s proposals are positive and reflect Syria’s real position. Let me quote what he said: “they are helping us construct a solution, in cooperation with him and his government, to help Lebanese reconciliation within a national unity framework that will lead the country to elect a president for all Lebanese.” Do you have any comment?
I am not aware of these analyses on the part of the Syrian press. You are familiar with our policies. You are familiar in particular with the efforts the foreign minister has expended, notably since the Celle Saint-Cloud meeting. We hope the constitutional process that is supposed to lead to presidential elections will be carried through to its conclusion in accordance with the constitution.
I would like to take this opportunity to note that Mr. Cousseran is continuing his consultations as part of the mission entrusted to him by the minister of foreign and European affairs. He was in Washington yesterday where he had meetings at the State Department and the National Security Council.
Q: Will Mr. Cousseran make other trips to other capitals?
The mission given to him by Mr. Kouchner entails ongoing contacts and consultations. That’s why Mr. Cousseran was in Lebanon last week. He has contacts with all of our partners. It was in this context that he went to Washington. He will have other conversations. His mission is continuing and will give rise to many trips and meetings.
Q: The foreign minister confirmed at the Ambassadors Conference that he hopes the Syrians will not intervene in the affairs of the Lebanese with respect to that country’s presidential elections. If Syria doesn’t intervene, there will be good relations between Paris and Damascus. That’s a little strange. Why is he putting preconditions on this relationship? Do you have any explanation?
There’s nothing new in the positions expressed by the foreign minister. We’ve always said that as long as Syria contributes to stability in Lebanon and throughout the region, the French-Syrian dialogue can be strengthened. On this point, I refer you to the President’s speech to the Ambassadors: “If Damascus makes a move in this direction, the conditions for a French-Syrian dialogue would be established. Otherwise, they would not be.” That’s exactly what the foreign minister said when he told you that our relationship and our dialogue with Syria depend on Syria’s attitude in the region.
Q: What exactly is France asking of Syria with respect to the situation in Lebanon?
As I said: for Syria to do everything it can to contribute to stability. I reminded you of the importance of the smooth unfolding of the constitutional process with respect to presidential elections in Lebanon. We hope all the countries of the region will contribute to the stability and smooth unfolding of this process.
Q: Yesterday or the day before yesterday, Mr. Cousseran met with Saad Hariri for four hours in Monaco. Can you tell us more about that meeting?
I don’t have any details about what they said to each other. Mr. Cousseran went to Monaco to meet with Saad Hariri. It was one of the many contacts he has had within the framework of the mission entrusted to him by the foreign minister. He was in Lebanon last week. He met with all the concerned parties. He is continuing his contacts and reports them to the minister.
Q: Did he meet with David Welch in Washington?
Yes
Q: Will the minister visit only Israel and the Palestinian Territories during his trip to the region?
I’ll give you all the details when the time comes. The trip hasn’t been finalized.
Q: With respect to Mr. Cousseran’s meetings in Washington, do you have information about the American attitude toward his mission?
They have a positive attitude. Like us, the Americans want to do everything possible to foster stability in Lebanon and in the region. So they have a very positive view of Mr. Cousseran’s mission.
Q: When the foreign minister and President Hariri say that France is the friend of all Lebanese and all religions, even though we know that during the U.S. secretary of state’s visit she asked France for clear support for the March 14 Forces, well, isn’t there a contradiction?
I don’t think you can call it a contradiction. Ms. Rice said what she said. There’s the American position, which is well known, and there’s the French position. What the Americans see as positive, if I can interpret what they tell us, is that France’s effort, and particularly Mr. Kouchner’s initiative, are very beneficial to the stability of Lebanon and the region.
After that, there are of course the differences you’ve noted between what the Americans are doing and what the French are doing. But we all hope to see stability prevail in the region.
Q: Can you underscore the points of convergence and divergence between you and the Americans on this point, and especially on the presidential elections in Lebanon?
We all hope that the presidential election process will be carried through to its conclusion in accordance with the constitution. But everything depends on the choices of the Lebanese. It’s their decision.
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