THE MINISTER – I wouldn't say a "counterweight". I don't believe that's the correct word, since we can all see that the problems are common ones: the United States, France, Mexico, the European Union, Latin America are all confronted with the same problems. We all want to find the solutions together. So it isn't a matter of being a "counterweight", but of seeking the greatest efficacy. The situation Iraq is experiencing today and the difficult situation in the Middle East show that when we are united, when we act together, we are more effective. That's what we want: to try and find solutions together.

THE MINISTER – It's very important for France because, for nearly fifty years, we have been working to build this Europe. Europe's enlargement is excellent news for everyone. We were 15 and we'll be 25. We are shortly going to sign the agreement on the entry of ten new countries into the European Union. It's a very important event. People often say Europe is divided, because their eyes are on the Iraq crisis. But, in fact, cooperation, relations between the Europeans are growing considerably stronger, which for France is an important plus point. We have worked a great deal with Germany and we think that the relationship between Germany and France is the engine of Europe. But this Europe must, of course, be a Europe for all the European countries and not a Europe acting against the interests of any one of them. This is why we want an open Europe, a Europe which can really play its rightful role in the international community of which it's one of the components.

THE MINISTER – You know that in every family, people sometimes make uncalled-for remarks, use words which are equivocal and create difficulties which have to be overcome, controversy. Such words must be forgotten so that we can see what's genuinely important for the family. For us, what's important is the change for Europe, the move from 15 to 25. It's also important to deepen Europe through reform of its institutions. You know that the Convention on the Future of Europe has ended. We're in the process of agreeing a draft common Constitution. An Intergovernmental Conference is going to meet to decide on it. This draft is a very good one. So it seems to me that we have everything we need in order to look to the future. Italy currently holds the Council presidency and Mr Berlusconi is the President of the European Union. We must all work with a view to bringing about a better future.

THE MINISTER – Obviously, world and particularly European opinion was shocked by what happened in March, i.e. the failure to observe human rights. This is why Europe's decision to debate this and reconsider its cooperation with Cuba was an important one. We also took the decision to invite the dissidents to our embassy on 14 July, France's National Day.

Naturally, we want solutions: it isn't a matter of taking decisions simply for the pleasure of doing so. These are difficult decisions since the objective is to open up new horizons in Cuba. At the moment, our thoughts are with the Cuban people who are France's friends. What's important to us is for everyone to work together as friends to find solutions, as Mexico, who has very strong ties with Cuba, is doing. How can influence be exerted on the Cuban leaders to extricate Cuba from the situation in which she finds herself, on the periphery of the international community, and failing to observe human rights?./.