Today's Date:

My dear compatriots,

This week, the Afghan crisis has seen a major development. It has not yet been resolved, but the regime supporting the terrorists has been defeated. This morning, French soldiers left for Afghanistan to participate in an international relief operation to help the population.

On 11 September, the world was struck by terror. Hatred murdered thousands of innocent people with unprecedented violence and everyone, suddenly, felt threatened, vulnerable.

At the time I told you that France would stand firm. That's what we have done. Life has gone on, with greater vigilance, more precautions, more constraints - constraints for which you have all understood the necessity.

France has stood shoulder to shoulder with the American people. Out of friendship, out of solidarity, but also because we knew that all the democracies are in danger, when one of them receives such a blow to the heart.

Armed with your support, I have explained France's approach and the requirements underpinning it, in Washington and New York, at the United Nations, and to our main partners in Europe and elsewhere. And in a few days' time I shall be doing so again in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

A requirement for firmness, demonstrated by our determined support for the military action pursued against the al-Qaida terrorists. This action will continue until the heart of the terrorist network, and notably bin Laden, has been neutralized. France is already participating in it with some two thousand men. With the Government, I have decided to increase our contribution by the deployment of additional combat aircraft.

And I want to pay tribute to the skill and readiness of our armed forces who have unflinchingly complied with every request addressed to them.

A requirement for truth, to denounce bin Laden's deception. He was claiming to defend the weakest when, relying on the support of the Taliban regime, one of the most archaic and most repressive ever known, he is driven only by murderous mania, fanaticism and the desire to destroy.

The truth consisted too in saying, from the outset, that the legitimate and necessary military action had to be completed by political action and a large-scale humanitarian operation.

Consequently, as soon as Mãzar-i-Sharif fell, an emergency humanitarian operation was launched to deliver food aid and medicines to the stricken Afghans. France is playing an active part in it. With the Government, I have decided to deploy French soldiers to help secure the area and particularly the airport. This will allow the establishment of a humanitarian air bridge to which French planes are going to contribute. And our NGOs, whose admirable work in Afghanistan I salute, have already stepped up their presence.

The emergency also called for a political solution, which has of necessity to be found through the UN. On the initiative of France and the United Kingdom, a resolution setting the framework for the action to be pursued, has just been adopted by the Security Council. The priority is to form an interim government representing all Afghans. This is the task of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, to whom France is giving her full support.

At a time when Kabul is seeing a rebirth of hope, a timid wind of freedom is starting to blow, when the veil can be lifted from women's eyes and the streets are echoing to the sound of music, let us help the Afghans come together so than none succumb to vengeance, and oppression gives way to tolerance.

My dear compatriots,

Once again, the democracies have been resolute enough to defend their values.

But, let's make no mistake about it, the battle to eradicate terrorism will be a long one. We must use every means, waging it on the financial, judicial and police fronts. We are doing so here at home and in the European Union and United Nations frameworks. We shall not relax our efforts. A global plan for fighting terrorism is being pursued. But everyone's security depends too on the effort of each and every one of us. And you must remain vigilant.

Finally, I should like to say to you that, while they have to be strong, democracies must also be generous.

Terrorism furthers no cause and no cause justifies it. It is pure crime. But how can we fail to see that poverty, despair and humiliation can offer a fertile breeding ground.

These events must, as never before, impel us to rethink relations between peoples.

France must step up her efforts to reduce the gulf opening up between the countries benefiting from the fruits of development and a section of mankind sinking ever deeper into poverty.

France must show the way to understanding, respect and dialogue between the peoples, between their cultures. Our world, like our society, is enriched by the differences within it.

France must also defend her values and get her message across.

Our country is fulfilling its role when it reiterates that conflicts without peace prospects fuel despair and resentment in the hearts of peoples. I'm thinking in particular of the Middle East, bruised and battered by so much violence. It's crucial to begin a process of political negotiations without delay. And this is what lies behind France's proposal to set up a peace table at which Israelis and Palestinians could resume the dialogue.

My dear compatriots,

In today's world, there is an urgent need for tolerance and for respect too, respect for one another, and for the principles and rules which have to underpin international life as they underpin societal life.

Our country, and Europe, are called on to work for the advancement of these humanist values. It's what we must go on doing together. We shall then be on the path towards a fairer, more mutually-supportive and so safer world.

Thank you./.