Today's Date:

I would like to say again that France stands solidly with the United States in its war on terrorism, that France is ready to assist the American judicial authorities, that it has already shown such assistance and will continue to do so with due respect for its laws.

There is a new element in the Moussaoui affair since the Attorney General has just announced that he will seek the death penalty against Moussaoui. That decision, which we regret, comes after consultations had been held in accordance with the Franco-American Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters of December 10, 1998 to determine the conditions in which this mutual legal assistance, which is not in question, would be implemented. In practical terms, France is ready to continue its consultations on this matter in a spirit of cooperation but, whatever the outcome, it will ensure that any evidence it provides may not be used as the basis for seeking the death penalty, a verdict or sentence to that end. This position is fully consistent with the mutual legal assistance treaty which stipulates the provisions that we will invoke./.