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IRAQ

Statements made by Dominique de Villepin, minister of foreign affairs, during his joint press briefing with the Iraqi Interim Governing Council delegation (excerpts) .

15.12.2003
Mr. Abdelaziz al-Hakim, President of the Governing Council of Iraq, and Mr. de Villepin (Quai d'Orsay)
Photo : © F. de la Mure/MAE

Paris, December 15 2003

THE MINISTER - Allow me to say first of all how happy I am to receive Mr Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, current president of the Iraqi Governing Council, and his entire delegation. This delegation includes several other Council members - Mr Talabani, whom I already had the pleasure of meeting on 15 July, Mr Younadem Kana and Mr Samir Shakir al-Sumaidy - as well as several ministers, notably Mr Zebari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Planning Minister Mr Mahdi al-Hafez.

This meeting underscores the importance that both France and Iraq attach to their dialogue on contributing to the new Iraq's stability, reconstruction and her smooth integration into the international community.

SADDAM HUSSEIN'S ARREST

This visit comes at a particularly important time, the day after the arrest of Saddam Hussein - an arrest that we all welcome and that allows the page on his dictatorship to be turned. The page of the war has been turned, the page of the dictatorship is turning, and we hope that the page of violence and terrorism may also be turned in the very near future.

I also told the delegation how much we hope that this major development will allow the Iraqis to turn towards the future, to unite in order to forge their country's destiny - that of an independent Iraq, a democratic Iraq, a sovereign, peaceful Iraq.

In our meeting, we discussed in depth all the issues relating to Iraq. There was a broad consensus on the major principles that must guide us. First of all, the need to preserve Iraq's unity and to restore to the Iraqis, as swiftly as possible, control over their own destiny. We also emphasized the importance of the whole international community mobilizing in order to work collectively for a stable, united, democratic Iraq, respectful of her great religious diversity and fully integrated into her regional environment. On these two counts, Saddam Hussein's arrest provides an opportunity that we must all seize. I reminded the delegation, in this spirit, of French proposals aimed at the rapid establishment of a transitional sovereign government, able to conduct the country's affairs.

15 NOVEMBER AGREEMENT

The agreement reached in Baghdad on 15 November - which we welcomed - is a positive step in that direction. We must now continue to move forward. We must notably make this process as inclusive as possible, since it's important for all Iraqis to see the institutions to be created as their own. We must also begin moving as quickly as possible to transfer governmental responsibilities to the Iraqis as provided for in UNSCR 1511. This process must be implemented in a regional context in order to rally all Iraq's neighbours around the common objectives of stability and prosperity. And finally, the United Nations must be given its full role in this process.

IRAQ/FRANCE/EU/HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
/COOPERATION/POLICE COLLEGE

As I indicated to Mr al-Hakim, France is ready to do all she can in these efforts and to continue the action already undertaken on a bilateral and European level, in the humanitarian sphere, of course, and also in the area of cooperation, whether it be education, health or archaeology. As far as security is concerned, we foresee providing assistance that would lead in the long run to the establishment of a Police College (Academy) in Iraq.

ECONOMY/IRAQI DEBT/PARIS CLUB

Finally, in the economic arena, French businesses are ready to contribute to Iraq's development in satisfactorily transparent conditions. Through the Paris Club framework, France, together with other creditors, believes that an agreement could be reached in 2004, if the requisite conditions are met. France could then consider debt cancellations which are appropriate and compatible with Iraq's financing capacity. This is what I announced to Mr al-Hakim and his delegation.

France's cooperation with Iraq will develop all the more smoothly once that country's security is strengthened, her economic and financial transparency is assured and transfers of sovereignty are clearly under way. We hope that Saddam Hussein's arrest will create a psychological shock that will help bring the efforts of all parties - the Iraqis and the entire international community - in line with one another. France will remain ready both to take the initiative and to listen to Iraqi leaders in order to progress this demanding task.

RESTORATION OF IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY

Q. - Mr Talabani has just said he asked France for a political presence at every level. Is France currently able to provide a political presence in any area before June?

THE MINISTER - With regard to the political process that was just mentioned, you know that the agreement of 15 November provides for all powers, all sovereignty to be transferred to Iraq by 30 June. Naturally this means right now preparing this transfer process in a way that gives Iraq decision-making powers in all the essential sectors. In all major sensitive areas - I'm thinking of security, the budget and planning, in which measures have just been taken, as the Planning Minister announced - it is important for all these administrations to get in operational order. France is prepared to assist with this process, as I said to them, particularly in the constitutional sphere, in which we have particular expertise and experience, and so I offered France's support to the Interim Governing Council so that this process can successfully conclude by 30 June. As you know, we also hope the UN will play its full role in moving this political process forward.

EXCLUSION FROM RECONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS/IRAQI DEBTS

Q. - This visit by the Iraqi delegation comes at a time of debate on the exclusion of France and other anti-war countries from Iraq's reconstruction. Can we say that the cancellation of a share of Iraqi debt, which you just mentioned, is a sort of compromise with Washington, which requested that cancellation?

THE MINISTER - Let's not confuse different issues. I indicated France's willingness to work towards a solution to Iraq's debt within the framework of the Paris Club. You will understand that as France chairs that Club, we have to be somewhat discreet. What we are hoping is that an agreement can be reached in 2004 - and we think this is the general view within the Club -, and I indicated my willingness to approve some cancellations, taking into account, of course, the special demands of the Iraqi situation, such as the resources Iraq may have today. I think we mustn't mix up the debt question and the issue of reconstruction contracts. I think it would be completely inappropriate to fuel a dispute on that issue today. It is important for things to be clarified. We are going to study the exact significance of the declarations made in Washington on that issue. We're going to do so in cooperation with our EU partners and the Commission. Of course, when we talk about rebuilding Iraq we mean the reconstruction of Iraq supported by the entire international community, and we believe that the spirit of reconstruction must be one of unity. On all these issues our only concern is, of course, what is in the interest of the Iraqi people, which is the stability of their country, and we can see how important this is not only for Iraq and for Iraqi unity, but also for the region and for world stability.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR/IRAQ

Q. - When are you expecting your highest diplomat, Mr Bajolet, here today - who isn't ambassador because he is the head of an Interests Section - to be able to present his letters of credence and become France's ambassador to Iraq?

THE MINISTER - As far as France is concerned, quite obviously as quickly as possible. We would have liked to have been able to appoint this ambassador before the end of the year. But, as you know, the 15 November agreement gave the end of June as a deadline. We hope to have a French ambassador present his credentials to the Iraqi government on that same date./.