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US/EU/Iraq
Interview given by Michel Barnier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to “Europe 1” (excerpts)
Paris, September 10, 2004
Q. – Tomorrow is 11 September, the third anniversary of the tragic, salient New York terrorist attack; America is in a state of national alert. Can we acknowledge, sadly, that terrorism is constantly increasing today, with, in addition, the statement made by al-Zawahiri, one of al-Qaida’s leaders?
We’re in a dangerous world, the threats are no longer the same as 20 or 30 years ago. These threats are diffuse, permanent, this insecurity is global as we saw with the tragedy in Washington and New York exactly three years ago. I want to say that France and the other European countries remain determined in their battle against terrorism. But we also have to be aware that this terrorist scourge will really be eradicated only by tackling the problems on which it feeds: regional crises – I’m thinking of Iraq but there are others –, proliferation of nuclear weapons, organized crime, poverty, destitution. These are the fronts on which we’ve also got to act to diminish the breeding grounds in which terrorists thrive. Q. – And we have to get used to the idea that terrorism will now be a constant in relations between States so long as we haven't found the solutions?
EU Of course, it's an urgent, obligatory and permanent area for international cooperation. Since I was talking about the instability of the world, this dangerous world we live in, I'd like to point something out to you. Why is our continent, the European Union, one of the rare beacons of stability, a beacon of civilization? It's no coincidence. We are going to talk about Europe. I mean that the first reason for Europe, the first promise made fifty years ago was to build between us, voluntarily, democratically, an area of peace and stability protecting us. That's the first honoured promise and the first reason for the European Union's existence. And in the debate opening on the European Constitution I'd like people not to forget this honoured promise. IRAQ Q. – Iraq: no one is any longer in control of a situation of chaos and bloodshed. Last night Kofi Annan issued an appeal for preference to be given to political action over the use of force in Ira
Q. Do you agree?
That's been France's consistent position in the Iraq crisis from the outset: asking for a way out of this crisis, this black hole, and others too, to be found in the framework of international law and of the United Nations. Q. – Aren't there any initiatives which can be taken?
Initiatives have been taken. There's a United Nations resolution we worked on – UNSCR 1546 – which allows us, stage by stage, to envisage a political way out, as Kofi Annan is advocating. We want these crises to be ended through political dialogue, by working together in the framework of international law. This is the position Jacques Chirac has consistently maintained for many long years. (...) FRENCH HOSTAGES Q. – (...) Is the fighting in the area delaying the hostages' release?
The situation in Baghdad and Iraq [as a whole] is very difficult. ITALIAN HOSTAGES Q. – Now there is mounting anxiety in Italy about the young Italian girls employed by NGOs who were kidnapped in Baghdad in broad daylight. Has each country got to press the case for its hostages' release?
Of course, we stand together and France was very shocked to learn of the kidnapping of Simona Torreta and Simona Pari who work for a humanitarian organization. This is, let me add, the opportunity for me to salute the very courageous work of all these non-governmental organizations in Iraq and everywhere else. (...)./.
Embassy of France in the United States - September 13, 2004
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