…Kenya

Statement issued February 28, 08
“Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, welcomes with great satisfaction the power-sharing agreement reached today between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
“The minister of foreign and European affairs commends the wisdom of each of the parties. They have found the political compromises necessary to guarantee a lasting outcome to the crisis in Kenya. A return to stability, calm and economic development is now possible. Kenya must continue to work for the reconciliation of all its constituents.
“The minister of foreign and European affairs salutes the work of the Panel of Eminent Persons chaired by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan. He is pleased at the unity of the international community behind his mediation.
“Mr. Bernard Kouchner also hails the decisive role played by the African Union in settling this crisis, and in particular that of its president, Jakaya Kikwete. France, in complete coordination with the European Union, will continue to support the implementation of this agreement. It will continue its efforts to help the Kenyan people return to the path to prosperity and peace.”

…Darfur
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, February 25, 08
Q: The UN is worried about new violence in Darfur…. What’s France’s assessment today of the situation in Darfur where the hybrid force is still struggling to get set up?
The situation in Darfur remains extremely disturbing. The security and humanitarian emergency makes it more necessary than ever to deploy the African Union–UN hybrid operation (UNAMID) whose mandate focuses on the protection of civilians. Nine thousand soldiers and police officers are already in the field. They are due to be joined rapidly by Egyptian and Egyptian elements. The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) has been signed between the UN and the Sudanese authorities, but difficulties persist; we are demanding that the Sudanese authorities cooperate fully with a view to the total deployment of UNAMID. We’re also asking them to take the necessary measures to ensure humanitarian workers can freely access civilians.

…Cameroon
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, February 29, 08
Q: Cameroon has experienced a wave of violence over the last six days? What’s your position?
We are paying close attention to events in Cameroon.
After the rioting of the last few days, a relative calm seems to have returned today to the main cities in Cameroon. Our consulates in Douala and Yaounde continue to keep in touch with our compatriots whom we are advising not to move around at this stage.
I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that our advice to travelers is unchanged: we advise against travel to Cameroon and we urge travelers to exercise extreme caution.
As for your question on an eventual amendment of the Constitution, we hope that a political debate will be held peacefully and democratically, taking into account all the constituents of Cameroonian society. On the initiative of the Slovene presidency, the EU is mobilized and conferring on this matter.
Lastly we consider it is important to make a distinction between the February 23 demonstration, which was a demonstration organized by the main opposition party in Cameroon, the SDF, and the strike by transporters and the violence of the last few days. A serious social crisis is compounding a tense political context.
Q: Do you support the opposition which wants to organize a constitutional conference?
I’m not supporting any side. We wish in a general way to see an open political debate involving all the constituents of Cameroonian society. This is in everybody’s interest.

…Security Council
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, February 29, 08
Q: President Sarkozy expressed France’s support for having South Africa join the UN Security Council. What countries does France support to become permanent members of the Council?
Our position is known. We support notably Japan, Germany, India and Brazil. We are in favor of enlarging the Security Council to take into account the reality of international life, and we are particularly attached to seeing Africa better represented, as the president said.
Q: Until now, France was in favor of Africa having two seats on the Security Council; the President mentioned South Africa. Do you still maintain the principle of a second seat for Africa?
Let me remind you what the president said specifically “There are a billion Africans in the world. Is it conceivable that Africa should not have at least one permanent seat on the UN Security Council?”

…Turkey/Iraq

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, February 26, 08
Q: About the very serious events in northern Iraq. What level of loss of life, incursions, arrests and shelling do we have to see before France calls on Turkey, which is violating an international border, to withdraw its troops from Iraq?
We have called for restraint and dialogue. We’ve said we understood Turkey’s security concerns, and like the European Union we condemn the attacks by the PKK, a terrorist organization in the sense of the EU list. At the same time we’re saying that there’s no military solution. The solution is political. That is why we’re calling for restraint and dialogue between the Turks and Iraqis.
Q: One can well understand the solution to the problem posed by the PKK, and it’s Iraq’s job to control its borders even though it’s difficult with the Kurdish autonomous zone in northern Iraq. But don’t you feel that the current remedy is worse than the disease?
The only possible solution is political. There’s no military solution. That’s clear. We urge the Turks and the Iraqis to have political dialogue. You’re right to emphasize that the current situation is troubling. That’s why we’re urging restraint and dialogue.
Q: You’ve called on the Turks and Iraqis to engage in dialogue, but the problem is between the Kurds of Iraq and the Turks. Have you anything to say about that?
We are committed to Iraq’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. I told you what we want to see: dialogue and a political solution.

…Iran/IAEA
Communiqué issued Saturday, February 23
“ France thanks the director-general of the IAEA and his teams for this new report which attests to the Agency’s efforts to shed light on Iran’s past and present nuclear activities.
“The report shows that Iran, under pressure from the international community, has provided new information in response to questions from the IAEA. But major uncertainties remain, in particular on activities that ‘could have a military nuclear dimension’ which the Agency rightly terms a ‘matter of serious concern’.
“The Agency sets out these activities in detail, some of which it considers could be part of ‘research and development activities for nuclear weapons’. It consequently emphasizes in its report that it is not in a position to determine the true nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
“Other complementary information given by Iran raises new questions. The Agency was able to visit new sites where ‘new generation’ centrifuges are being tested; this means an accelerated program of centrifugation whereas these considerable efforts to develop these highly sensitive technologies have no rationale in civilian use.
“As the IAEA director-general recalls, it is essential for Iran to comply with all the demands of the international community expressed by the IAEA Board of Governors and UN Security Council, and to restore confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program; the Agency is not in a position to attest to it today.
“This requires Iran to give clear, complete and precise answers to questions about its past and present nuclear activities and to give the IAEA the means to verify its answers by the implementation of the Additional Protocol and the other measures of transparency demanded by the Agency. It also implies suspending its enrichment, heavy water and reprocessing related activities as demanded by the IAEA Board of Governors and Security Council.
“Our preference is for dialogue and negotiations to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem. We therefore call again on Iran to comply with its international obligations and to permit at last, through the suspension of its sensitive activities, negotiations to start which we earnestly desire.”

…Lebanon
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, February 29, 08
Q: In the event the situation flares up, will the French unit with UNIFIL refer to the government or take the necessary precautions in the context of the UNIFIL command?
I don’t accept your hypothesis of a flare-up. The French contingent acts in the context of the UNIFIL mandate. We hope that thanks to UNIFIL in particular, stability will be maintained in the entire region. You know how much we value UNIFIL’s presence and role.
Q: What’s your reaction to the deployment of North American warships off the coast of Lebanon?
We’ve taken note of the American decision.
Q: Could you tell us a bit more?
We were informed of the US decision yesterday in a bilateral capacity. We note that the US administration presented this decision as an expression of support for regional stability. At this time I wish to recall our position on the political and security situation in Lebanon. We’ve continually supported all efforts to find a political solution to the current crisis. We continue to fully support the efforts of the Arab League and its secretary-general to implement the Arab League plan.
Q: Is sending warships going to help advance the discussions and stability in the region?
That is the aim the Americans say they are seeking. On our side we are in favor of everything that can help stability in the region, and we think that the solution is political.
Q: The American presence on Lebanese soil in 1982—with the French—left painful memories and didn’t help stabilize the region.
There are many painful memories in history. Let’s look to the future and support that which may help stability .
Q: But are you supporting the US decision?
I didn’t say that. I noted that they said stability was their objective. The Americans’ analysis is theirs, and this decision is their decision. On our side, we support a political solution.
Q: Is the presence of US ships off Lebanon part of President Sarkozy’s vision of the world? Is this position in keeping with the president’s vision?
All the positions we uphold are in keeping with the president’s vision, and I would remind you that it is the president who sets French foreign policy.
Q: The Lebanese minister of culture has officially announced that Lebanon is going to boycott the Salon du Livre.
We find this decision extremely regrettable. I’ve already commented on the value this kind of event, which has to be open and permit exchanges, represents. So we deeply regret this type of decision.

…Middle East
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, February 29, 08
Q: What have you to say about the catastrophic situation—one may call it genocide—of the Palestinians in Gaza and Nablus? (…)
… With regard to the terrible situation currently prevailing in the Territories and particularly Gaza, we deplore the deaths of four children yesterday in the Gaza Strip. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to show the utmost restraint in order to stop the escalation of violence. We condemn the practice of extrajudicial executions which are contrary to international law.
We also call for a complete end to rocket fire by Palestinian factions against Israeli territory.
We are extremely concerned about all these acts of violence which are undermining the peace efforts and threatening stability in the region.
Q: But can’t the president do something at the UN? (…) You don’t have the right to remain inactive, you have to do something. (…)
We all agree on the importance of human life. You cannot say we are doing nothing, and I would remind you that the minister of foreign and European affairs traveled to the region the weekend of February 16-17. He had contacts as you know and obtained some practical results, specifically the delivery of cement to Gaza, which hadn’t been the case before.
We are well aware of the tragedy in this part of the world.
You know perfectly well how active we are in all the international forums, whether it is in the EU or at the UN.
We have said all along we condemned all acts of violence. We deplore the deaths of these four children. We regret all the deaths that befall the Palestinian population. We also expressed regret at the death of an Israeli man a few days ago from rocket fire.
We are all aware of the tragedy in this region, and I refer you to the minister’s statements when he was there some days ago. He didn’t hide his disappointment regarding the momentum that had been given at Annapolis.

…Colombia

- 6 TH ANNIVERSARY OF INGRID BETANCOURT’S ABDUCTION
Statement made by the Minister February 23, 08
“We commemorate today a very sad anniversary, the kidnapping of our compatriot, Ingrid Betancourt, who has been held prisoner by the FARC in Colombia since February 23, 2002.
“My thoughts go out to Ingrid Betancourt and her loved ones.
“Securing the release of all the FARC hostages is a priority for the French authorities.
The president of the Republic has stepped up initiatives and contacts since his election, notably with the presidents of Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, to unblock the situation. We must have hope and continue our efforts tirelessly.
“The prime minister discussed the hostages issue with several South American heads of state in Buenos Aires in mid-December at President Fernandez de Kirchner’s inauguration.
“I myself am just back from Caracas and Bogotá where I talked at length with Presidents Chavez and Uribe and the hostages’ families. Together we explored constructively the leads and prospects in the search for a humanitarian solution to the issue of the hostages, but time is running out for the most frail, and I emphasized the humanitarian urgency of releasing the women and the sick without delay.
“During my visit, I was deeply moved to meet with Ingrid Betancourt’s mother and husband and the families of other hostages in order to show the solidarity and determination of the French authorities.
“I pay a warm tribute to their courage and also to that of Ingrid Betancourt’s children. The struggle of Ingrid Betancourt and all the hostages is the finest testimony of human dignity.
“We all hope that the January 10 release of two hostages, Clara Rojas, Ingrid Betancourt’s campaign director, and Consuelo Gonzalez, who’s now in Paris, is only a start. We are waiting in particular for the four other people to be released as the FARC recently announced and President Chavez confirmed to me.
“The French authorities are permanently committed to reaching a humanitarian solution that will lead to all the hostages recovering their freedom and returning to their families.”

- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, February 29, 08
Q: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has proposed the official establishment of a group of friends to help in the prospect of dialogue between the FARC and Mr. Uribe’s government. He also said he’s counting on France’s support. Are you in favor of such a group? Do you think you’ll join?
We are in favor of everything that may help secure the release of the hostages and lead to a humanitarian solution. This has been always been our position. We support the efforts of all who can help in this.