Today's Date:

It’s not only two French journalists, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, but also their chauffeur, so three men. The two French journalists know the Arab world and this region well, and have a genuine attachment to the Iraqi people. They’ve written this and proved it as journalists. They’ve been missing for 13 days. And a few days ago this situation got worse because there’s an ultimatum, so we decided to take several messages to this region for those with any responsibility for this situation. That’s what I’ve been doing, as Foreign Minister, for four days, and what we’ve also been doing in Paris with the whole of our people, particularly with the French Muslims, who are unanimously expressing the same view. And what I can simply say, thinking of these three men, and thinking of our compatriots, at this grave moment, is that I sincerely hope that reason will prevail and that the appeals, not just by this region’s politicians, but also by Islam’s highest authorities, those calling for human life to be respected, will be successful.

Once again, I remain hopeful that reason and the appeals which have been issued – I’m thinking of that by Sheikh Al Qardaoui whom I met in Cairo – are going to be heeded. I hope so with all my heart. As for the outcome, you’re seeing and hearing it, including on your channel, which is broadcasting them very objectively: appeals from all over the region, in all the Arab and Muslim countries, from people of all sensibilities and backgrounds, expressing the same view and explaining, as we’re doing ourselves, what France is and what she’s doing. They’re saying what France and our diverse society, totally united in this ordeal, is, and what she has been doing for a very long time in the region and particularly in the Middle East, Iraq and Palestine for the peoples’ dignity, freedom and sovereignty. It’s our steadfast policy and this is the opportunity for us to repeat it. And frankly, today I – I say this as Foreign Minister – am very touched, as is President Chirac, by the unanimous stance taken by all the Arab and Muslim world leaders, who are expressing their disbelief at this kidnapping.

QATAR/AL JAZEERA

THE MINISTER – No, I'm not surprised by this unanimity, but all the same the rapidity and scale of this support has taken me by surprise. It's one of the reasons I'm in Doha today, in addition to the contacts I've had with this friendly country, Qatar. We have long enjoyed excellent relations with Qatar. It's an important country which is respected in the region. One of the reasons I came to Doha was because of you, it's because you are here and your channel, whose output is closely geared to the emotions, concerns, worries, hopes of all the region's peoples. You have widely reported all these statements of solidarity with France and the journalists, and have, exceptionally, yourselves taken a stand because of the involvement of two of your fellow journalists. I have also come to tell you this and to express my gratitude: you know better than I what the job of a journalist entails. We know these two journalists. This evening I'm returning to Amman, where they live where they have many friends. They are real professionals, who have always been objective, who have always reported the Iraqi people's difficulties and their sufferings. Thinking of them, the work they do, makes me think of many journalists, of all nationalities, who know the dangers of their profession. There's another French journalist who has been missing for a year in Iraq, Frédéric Nerac. Another journalist died shortly before the war, Patrick Bourrat. I'm thinking too of him and many others who know the dangers of your profession.

FRANCE/HEADSCARF

THE MINISTER – There's no law in France on Muslim religious signs, there's an Act, in fact dating back to the beginning of the twentieth century, which guarantees the neutrality of a number of public places, requiring those working or spending time in them to respect the State's impartiality and so refrain from wearing religious signs, but this applies to all religions, which are treated totally equally and impartially. You only have to come to France, where you have Al Jazeera representatives, and see the streets crowded with women freely wearing headscarves. Ever since it has existed, and this is integral to its identity, it’s always been – this is also what I want to explain – the pride and honour of the French Republic to guarantee the freedom and protection of all its citizens. Today, in this very diverse society we have five million Muslims living in France who can practise their religion freely, who have this guarantee and this protection enabling them to express their faith and worship freely like those of all the other religions. This is the reality and true nature of French society, this is our Republic. We have laws, we simply want people to respect our identity, our sovereignty just as we'd like all peoples to be sovereign and in control of their destiny.

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THE MINISTER – I don't want to believe there will be such an outcome. I don't want to believe that these men, who bear this responsibility for the fate of our two compatriots and their chauffeur, won’t heed the appeals they are listening to, which are coming to them from every side; from Islam's highest authorities who are telling them that at the heart of this great religion there is respect for people's dignity, human life and tolerance; and at the same time, the appeals I have come to make here which are echoing many statements by leaders of all sensibilities, saying what France is, what our society is, how people live, practise their faith and religion freely in our country, and what France traditionally does in the region. France, I repeat, has for a very long time had a steadfast policy, which is very important to President Chirac: a policy designed to safeguard peoples' freedom, dignity and sovereignty. This is [France's policy] vis-à-vis Palestine, vis-à-vis Iraq and vis-à-vis every people and country in the region.

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IRAQ

THE MINISTER – Iraq is a very great country and has a great people. There is a new phase unfolding in front of us, and the reason why, for example, we recently restored diplomatic relations is that we want to cooperate so that the Iraqi people may live in better conditions, have a hope of democracy, security, and of economic development, particularly for the young Iraqis, and for all this to take place under Iraqi leadership. The real goal of the policy France has always followed from the outset in this crisis, initially in the war and today in this difficult situation, is for Iraq to be governed by Iraqis, and, here in Iraq, as in other situations, we are working, fighting for the Iraqi people's full sovereignty and independence.

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HOSTAGES

THE MINISTER – Yes, I have a message and I know the importance of this channel where I am today, which, ever since its creation, has relayed and been closely geared to the emotions, concerns and worries of the Muslim and Arab peoples. First of all, I have a message of thanks for all those in Iraq who have understood what’s at stake and are helping us – communities, leading religious and civilian figures, groups who in some way or other are helping us try and secure the hostages' release. And, secondly, I have a more direct message for those with a say in the detention of our two compatriots and their chauffeur. I think they must heed what is being said on every side and I, as French minister, am not alone in saying this. It's being said in every Muslim country by people of very great authority, particularly Islam's highest authorities, people of all sensibilities and opinions who are saying the same thing: look at what France is, look how this friendly country respects freedom of conscience and religion for all those living in France and particularly for the five million Muslim French or Muslims living in France; and then look too at what France is doing in the region, how she has always shown solidarity with peoples in respect of their independence, their dignity and of justice. I hope that these very many appeals to respect human life, for tolerance which is at the heart of the message of this great religion of Islam, this appeal to reason being made by many people will be heeded. (...)./.