…Turquey
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 4, 2008
France condemns in the strongest possible terms the deadly attack which occurred yesterday in the city of Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. It offers its condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones, and assures the Turkish authorities of its solidarity in the fight against terrorism.
…Kouchner’s visit to Pakistan
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 3, 2008
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner was in Pakistan on January 1 and 2.
During his visit the minister laid a wreath on behalf of President Sarkozy and the French people at the site where Benazir Bhutto was slain in an appalling terrorist attack in Rawalpindi.
Mr. Kouchner also talked with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Momaddedmian Soomro and Foreign Minister Inam ul-Haq.
He met with representatives of Pakistan’s political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Benazir Bhutto’s party, and had talks with Asif Ali Zardari, Ms Bhutto’s husband and co-chairman of the PPP.
He had talks with Asma Jahangir, chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief.
The minister wanted through his trip to pay a final tribute to Benazir Bhutto, a distinguished citizen of Pakistan, and to express France’s support for unity, stability and democracy in this great country.
He reaffirmed our solidarity with Pakistan and the Pakistani people in the face of the barbarism of terrorism, and our determination to fight this threat with it.
Bernard Kouchner emphasized it was important for the parliamentary elections, now scheduled for February 18, to be transparent and fair and take place in secure conditions, all of which guarantee the credibility of the election. He said France stands ready to assist with the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
Q: Does France support the idea of a UN inquiry into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination as her supporters want? Did the minister discuss the possibility in his talks in Pakistan?
The minister discussed the matter in his talks in Pakistan. The idea of a UN-led inquiry into Benazir Bhutto’s death doesn’t appear to be on the agenda as the Pakistani government hasn’t asked for it. The minister did on the other hand offer Pakistan the assistance of French or European experts. The Pakistani government is open to the idea and has already obtained the British government’s consent for Scotland Yard to take part in the inquiry, which we welcome.
Q: Can you tell us how the minister’s visit to Islamabad on Wednesday was prepared at the European level and if he had a mandate to speak on the EU’s behalf?
The minister talked before his visit to Pakistan with his Slovene counterpart, Dimitrij Rupel, whose country currently holds the presidency of the European Union Council. The two ministers agreed that Mr. Kouchner would speak for the 27 during the trip. The minister also had phone conversations with several of his European counterparts, and again with Mr. Rupel after his visit.
Q: What’s your reaction to the postponement of the elections in Pakistan?
The main thing is that the elections which have now been set for February 18, should take place in transparent, fair and secure conditions which guarantee the credibility of the poll.
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 4, 2008
Q: When the minister was in Pakistan, he sought to make a distinction between the attacks that killed former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, citing the alleged role of a foreign power in the case of Lebanon. How does this distinction affect the risk of chaos following such events and progress in the inquiry?
The Pakistani government hasn’t asked for a UN-led inquiry. So this situation has to be kept distinct from the situation in Lebanon.
During his visit to Pakistan, the minister offered the assistance of foreign experts in the inquiry into Ms Bhutto’s death. The Pakistani government was receptive to this idea and has already obtained the British government’s consent for Scotland Yard to assist in the investigation.
…Syria/Lebanon
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 2, 2008
Q: Do you confirm the existence of a “document of understanding” between France and Syria on the Lebanese crisis? If so, could you give us a few details?
As President Sarkozy recalled in his most recent statements, the resumption of our political contacts with Syria was aimed at fostering an understanding on the election of a president in Lebanon. Accordingly there were several exchanges although there is no document of understanding as you put it.
Q: Now that you’ve broken off your discussions with Damascus, how are you going to pursue your role as facilitator in the Lebanese crisis, especially after according Syria a central role in resolving the crisis?
We did not accord a “central role” to any party. It is primarily up to the Lebanese to resolve this crisis. France, which remains engaged, is always ready for its part to help in the search for a solution.
Q: With regard to the powerlessness of the international community in the face of Syria, President Sarkozy spoke of setting up the international tribunal which isn’t a “joke.” Is the tribunal a means of putting pressure on Syria?
The tribunal, which is independent, has a mandate to try the people responsible for the attack against Rafik Hariri and the other attacks which may be related to it.
We are fully engaged in establishing this tribunal which must be able to start its work soon.
Q: Do you have any comment about Syria’s announcement, through its foreign minister, that it was suspending cooperation with France on Lebanon?
We have taken note of the announcement. I refer you on this matter to the remarks made by the president in Cairo on December 30.
Q: The Syrian foreign minister announced that “France had informed Damascus of its failure to convince the Lebanese majority of a Franco Syrian plan to settle the Lebanese crisis” and that “Paris is trying to blame his country for its failure.” What’s your reaction?
What we told the Syrians is that our political contacts were at an end until Syria demonstrates its good faith and a president with broad support is elected in Lebanon. Our positions and expectations are known. They are those of the international community, notably the Europeans, as the Portuguese presidency recalled in its statement of December 31.
Q: Do you confirm the existence of a French document for a solution in Lebanon which had Syria’s backing?
I cannot confirm the existence of such a document. As I told you in answer to your first question, the purpose of the exchanges between Syria and France was to encourage agreement among the Lebanese parties on the election of a president with broad support
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 4, 2008
Q: Every day there’s contradictory information in Lebanon about the “letter of intent” regarding a “basket” of solutions. The letter was prepared by Mr. Kouchner on his last visit to Beirut. Can you tell us once and for all the details and stumbling bocks, and name the people who have blocked it?
Our discussions with the actors in the Lebanese crisis aim to promote agreement on the election of a president with broad support. These contacts were an opportunity to reaffirm the main principles which must prevail in a solution to the crisis in Lebanon, beginning with the affirmation of the country’s sovereignty and independence.
There does not exist any such “letter of intent” or “basket of solutions” as you put it.
…Kenya
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 4, 2008
France is observing the situation in Kenya attentively and hopes that the violence will continue to lessen.
We are closely following the situation of our nationals in Kenya and updating our recommendations for them. We have made arrangements to facilitate the return of French tourists who wish to return to France from Mombassa and we’ve sent a representative from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to the city.
We are also paying close attention to the repercussions that the situation might have on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the displaced and refugee populations in this region of Africa.
France calls on all the parties to show restraint and engage in dialogue. It stresses that it is up to the Kenyans to find solutions to the crisis in accordance with their democratic tradition. It is ready to provide assistance, together with the other members of the international community and particularly its European partners, if the parties state they need it.
Q: How large exactly is the French community in Kenya—in terms of numbers, sectors of activity, etc.? Do you plan to evacuate them in the event international mediation fails?
The French community registered with our embassy’s consular services in Nairobi numbers 1,140. Evacuation measures are not being considered.
…Middle East
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 3, 2008
Q: More than a month after Annapolis and almost three weeks after the Paris conference, Israel is pursuing increasingly violent actions in Gaza and the West Bank, particularly what is going on now in Khan Younes. What justification is there for these actions and isn’t there a contradiction with Israel’s commitments at the two meetings?
In the wake of the conferences in Annapolis and Paris at which the objective was to lay the foundations for a viable Palestinian state, France renews its call to the Israeli authorities to refrain from any unilateral action that could bring into question the current political process.
We also call for a complete stop to rocket-fire on Israel by the Palestinian factions.
…European Union
Statement issued by Foreign and European Minister Bernard Kouchner and European Affairs State Secretary Jean-Pierre Jouyet, January 2, 2008
“We wish to offer our warm wishes for success to the Slovene presidency of the Council of the European Union, the first presidency to be held by one of the ten countries that joined the European Union in 2004. Slovenia will have the responsibility of assisting the process of ratification of the Lisbon treaty. It will direct the work of the 27 so as to respond to the challenges that Europe has to face with respect to energy and climate change, growth and jobs. As the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, 2008 will also be the occasion to reaffirm the values of openness, tolerance and dialogue, which are at the center of the European project.
“France, which will succeed Slovenia, will cooperate closely with it so as to ensure a harmonious transition between our two presidencies. The contacts between our two countries which have already taken place, notably at the highest level, and which will be further reinforced during 2008, attest to the common will to succeed.
“We also wish to offer our profound thanks to Portugal which has just completed its presidency. We congratulate it warmly for conducting the successful negotiation and signing of the simplified treaty in Lisbon on December 13, 2007. By adopting this treaty the member states give Europe lasting means for its functioning. It is in this spirit that the group of reflection, chaired by Felipe Gonzalez, will be able to begin its work once it is complete. Lastly we welcome the recent expansion of the Schengen area which constitutes significant progress in the lives of the European Union’s citizens.”
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