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Statements made by Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, during his joint press briefing with Mr Gerhard Schröder, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, following their meeting (excerpts)

Berlin, June 10, 2003

(...)
THE PRESIDENT - I'd like to begin by saying that I offered the Chancellor - personally and above all on behalf of France, the French people - my very sincere condolences and complete solidarity following the death of four German soldiers from the Kabul international force, cravenly murdered in an attack. The German soldiers are engaged in peacekeeping, often, moreover, hand in hand with French soldiers, in a number of theatres of operation, particularly in Afghanistan but also in the Balkans and the Horn of Africa. And the German soldiers are demonstrating a professionalism, a diligence, an efficiency we can't speak too highly of, and so it's with particular sadness that I extended my condolences on the death of four of them to the Chancellor, the victims' families and of course the German people.

EU/INSTITUTIONAL REFORM/THESSALONIKI

(...) We shall together be arguing for a positive result in Thessaloníki as regards institutional reform on the basis of the Praesidium's proposals. (...)

MIDDLE EAST/AFGHANISTAN/DRC

We also had the same approach when it comes to the international problems, on Iraq, the Middle East - the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Syrian-Lebanese conflicts. We share the same analysis on Afghanistan as we do on the situation in Congo. We have no differences of view and clearly stated our will to move ahead, together, on all the problems presented to us.

EAST TIMOR

(...) Finally we talked about the problem of East Timor and decided to do everything possible to support the East Timor President-Elect's efforts to entrench democracy and peace in his country.
(...)

UK/EURO

Q. - A question for the President and the Chancellor, what is your reaction to Britain's decision on the euro and a referendum on the euro?

THE PRESIDENT - We were both informed in advance about this, in a friendly way, before the official announcement by the British Prime Minister, in totally clear terms, i.e. for Britain it is not a refusal to join the euro, but to wait for the developments, particularly on the economic front, which will make her entry smoother and more efficient. We are keen for Britain to join the euro, but we obviously don't intend pressurizing her.
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FRANCO-GERMAN RELATIONS

Q. - (...) My question concerns the nature of Franco-German relations. Some commentators feel that the restored warmth of our relations has slightly damaged our relations with other European countries. (...)

THE PRESIDENT - (...) As regards our relations with the other European countries, I want to reassure you straightaway: they are absolutely excellent and there's every intention that they will remain so. Everyone in the European Union perfectly understands and knows that agreement between Germany and France is a key to building Europe and to progress in doing so. Moreover, this is why when in the past we have chanced not to be in agreement, we have very swiftly been denounced by all our partners as being the ones blocking the building of Europe. So we are absolutely determined not to give rise to that accusation and, as I said, to pursue together the task of building Europe, in the most perfect agreement and greatest harmony with all the other present and forthcoming members of the European Union.
(...)

DRC

Q. - (On Congo)

(...)
THE PRESIDENT - First of all, this is an operation requested by the UN, under its control and under chapter VII. So it's an operation with an international mandate. Secondly, this mandate has been entrusted to the European Union. So it's the European Union which is acting. The European Union decided that France would be the lead nation and France accepted. In Kabul, it's Germany who is leading. In Congo, it's France. It's like that. Of course, the same countries can't be asked to make the efforts in Afghanistan, in Africa and elsewhere. So the problem is simple, it's a European matter. Because of this, Germany decided to make a contribution. Admittedly, it's not as in Afghanistan where her contribution is essential. In Congo, to tell it as it is, it's modest, but what's important is that she's there like Britain, like the other European countries. This is European solidarity in a UN-instigated mission. I might add that it's very important because after Macedonia, it's a far more important operation and the first EU-led operation outside Europe, the first. So I'm very grateful to the Chancellor for the decision he has taken. Very grateful.

MIDDLE EAST

Q. - The situation is again explosive in the Middle East and we'd like to know what the European Union could do to bring peace to this region. (...)

THE PRESIDENT - First of all, we have the same approach to the problem of the Middle East. In the framework of the Quartet, we have welcomed the publication of the road-map. And we consider that the US initiative is crucial given US relations with Israel. And it's why, in Evian, we wholeheartedly approved President Bush's initiative and particularly the meetings organized first in Sharm el-Sheikh and then in Aqaba. We both wished President Bush all the best for the US initiative. (...) That said, we are perfectly aware of the very difficult nature of this problem. We nevertheless note a meeting of minds at the regional level which we hadn't seen until now, a clear desire displayed by the Israeli Prime Minister to move towards peace and a clear effort to move towards peace by the Palestinian Prime Minister, in agreement, as he made quite clear, with President Arafat. We are now all going to do our utmost with all the resources we have, particularly in the framework of the Quartet, to try to encourage these efforts to move in the only direction possible, that of peace. (...)./.