Today's Date:

FRANCE/SWEDEN

THE MINISTER – (...) Sweden is for us, as you know, not just an essential political interlocutor, but also our leading trading partner in Scandinavia. She is also one of our major scientific and cultural partners, as the many exchanges between French and Swedish research bodies show. (...)

As well as confirming our excellent bilateral relations, this lunch was also the opportunity for us to note once again the great congruence of our views on the main European and international issues.

IRAQ

As regards Iraq, we noted the congruence of our objectives: to ensure Iraq’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty at the same time as the stability of the whole region. We signalled our common determination to work together for the country’s economic and political reconstruction.

MIDDLE EAST

As regards the Middle East, we share the idea that the road-map’s publication offers a real opportunity, a chance to end the crisis. The Europeans must, with all our partners, direct their energies to ensuring its implementation.

EU/CONVENTION

As regards the work of the Convention on the Future of Europe, we had an open and fruitful exchange of views on all the subjects relating to the EU’s institutional future. (...) We consider that the Praesidium’s proposals form a useful basis. (...)

Apart from a few differences of opinion, particularly concerning the creation of a European Minister of Foreign Affairs, we are convinced that we have to go on seeking together a consensus on the basis of the guidelines proposed by the Praesidium.

Needless to say, France fully supports the prospect of having Sweden as a member of the euro area. We can’t wait and are very strongly supporting the Swedish government’s efforts in this respect.

FRANCE/US/GERMANY/UK

Q. – We can see that the diplomatic coolness between Washington and Paris is continuing, Colin Powell was in Germany, Donald Rumsfeld also announced he was going to visit Berlin, aren’t you afraid of Washington succeeding in isolating Paris or breaking the Paris-Berlin diplomatic axis, if that’s its goal?

THE MINISTER – Listen, I’m obviously certain that isn’t the goal, and I have no worries in this respect. Relations with Germany are solid, strong, and obviously eclipse all the turmoil of the present situation, and the same in fact applies to the relations we maintain with Moscow. So I’m totally confident on this score.

We sought clarification from our American friends, and this is why I asked our ambassador in Washington to act – and I asked for the same to be done in London – insofar as we were seeing a campaign, very many untrue articles, at times even slanderous ones, sourced from within the Administration, the intelligence services, and thus making totally unfounded criticisms.

I wanted the facts to be given to our friends in Congress and in the Administration so that things may be clear between us.

(...)

IRAQ/DRAFT UNSCR

Q. – On the subject of Iraq, the Americans have tabled a new version of the draft resolution to which they have made some modifications. (...) With these modifications, are we moving closer to a consensus? Does France agree to these modifications?

THE MINISTER – We have obviously set a consultation process in train in New York, backed up by detailed discussions between the various capitals. This morning I had Igor Ivanov, my Russian opposite number, on the phone, I've had the chance to talk to my British opposite number Jack Straw; I'll shortly be seeing Mr Fischer, this consultation has to go on, we think this text can still be significantly improved. We have said that we wish the United Nations to have a central role because we think this will give us the strongest guarantees of efficacy and success. Both in the area of disarmament where it's important for its completion to be certified, which necessitates giving a role to UNMOVIC and the IAEA, and of sanctions, I can see things moving forward since the declarations of Colin Powell. We think that suspending the sanctions can bring us an immediate, very rapid result and also allow us to work towards satisfying the conditions which would allow them to be lifted.

We need to find a solution for the “Oil-for-Food” mechanism, find solutions to the disarmament problems, then we'll be able to lift the sanctions.

There's also the delicate question of the constitution of a political authority in Iraq; it's in everyone's interest for this political authority to enjoy the vital legitimacy. So everyone must apply themselves, liaising with the Iraqi political parties, and the countries in the region, to the task of building this process. Obviously, a special United Nations representative must have the resources to work to this end, this is why in New York we're proposing a number of modifications, amendments which will, I believe, make this resolution more effective. This in any case is what we have been talking to all our partners about today, once again in a spirit of openness, constructively, since it's a challenge for the whole international community.

FRANCE/US AMBASSADOR'S LETTER

Q. – What reaction was there from Washington to the letter sent by your ambassador and aren't you afraid that such an initiative, at this moment, risks making your relations with the United States even more strained?

THE MINISTER – No, not at all. You know, it's always in one's interest to talk things through, above all between friends. I think that at such moments, you've got precisely to show courage and stay calm. There are difficulties, let's talk about them, the hallmark of friendship is the ability to talk totally frankly, get to the root of the problems. We can't, between friendly countries, between allies, let ourselves be governed either by moods or by rumours. This is why we have of course opted to take the path of frank explanation. I'm sure this will benefit everyone. I repeat, in the international community today, the challenges are too great for us not to step up our efforts to achieve unity. It's by acting together that we’ll find the strength, the ability to move forward.

Q. – On the subject of that letter, do you believe that the differences between the United States and France are simply due to a press campaign or are the French efforts in the sphere of European foreign policy perhaps a contributory factor?

THE MINISTER – Regardless of the reasons which may, at one moment or another, justify disagreements, what's important is to be able to talk about them frankly. We're in an international society where we don't always agree, what's important is to talk about things, to talk them through and understand each other. We need to work together, we are stronger if we act together, this is the spirit in which France acts, this is the spirit in which France took the initiative of sending a letter to the members of the Administration and the members of Congress.

(...)

IRAQ/FRENCH IDEAS/DRAFT UNSCR/DISARMAMENT

Q. – (...) You talk about constructive proposals on Iraq, what are your ideas? How do you think you can improve the US draft?

THE MINISTER – (...) Let me simply add to what I said just now that, on all these points which are currently under discussion, we have, basically, a fairly similar approach to those of our German and Russian friends and most of the members of the Security Council. We're asking for all the mechanisms implemented and provided for by this resolution genuinely to be the subject of a collective effort.

DISARMAMENT

In the disarmament framework, of course the inspectors the Americans and British have sent over there have a special responsibility in the post-war context. Let's ensure that the United Nations inspectors can shoulder their responsibility vis-à-vis the international community. We need credibility and legitimacy, this is why UNMOVIC and the IAEA need to be able to certify and verify the work which has been done.

IRAQI OIL

As regards exploiting the oil, let's make sure that the mechanisms provided for give all the guarantees of transparency which are vital to prevent any suspicion, any dispute from tainting the decisions taken.

LEGAL IMMUNITY/UN MONITORING

As regards the subject of legal immunity, let's ensure, here too, full respect for international law and the application of the principles of accountability and international community monitoring so that, at regular intervals, the United Nations can be informed about what is happening in Iraq.

Once again, this is in everyone's interest. If we want to have a process which everyone wholly respects and supports, it must be as legitimate and open as possible.

IRAQI POLITICAL AUTHORITY

On the political issue, it's obviously in everyone's interest for all the political parties to be able to work together in Iraq, with the international community's support and involvement of a representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, liaising of course with the countries today present on the ground.

In other words, there have been several stages in this Iraq crisis: the diplomatic negotiation, then the war, and now we're at the stage when peace has to be built, and to build peace everyone must join forces. Let's not be divided, let's work together, this is France's dearest wish./.