| Publications | France A-Z | France/U.S. Relations | France in the U.S. | News | Aller aux Etats-Unis | Just for Kids | Going to France | Contact |
|
Iraq/Côte d'Ivoire/Middle East
Interview given by Michel Barnier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the "C'est arrive cette semaine" program on "Europe 1" (excerpts).
Paris, November 13, 2004 Q. – (...) Did you know that Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot were no longer with their driver, Mohammed al-Joundi, or, like us, did you learn about it yesterday, from the US army announcement?
THE MINISTER – The situation in Iraq is extremely complex, difficult and dangerous, and we haven't had any direct contacts with the group which kidnapped – a very long time ago now, too long – Christian Chesnot, Georges Malbrunot and Mohammed al-Joundi. The reports we've received throughout this long period haven't been direct, sometimes they tally, which is why we think they're alive and being well treated, and we didn't know precisely whether all three of them were still together or separated. Today there's proof – thanks to the release of Mohammed al-Joundi, and I'm delighted for him, for his loved-ones – that they were separated four weeks ago. (...) Q. – Let's talk about Côte d'Ivoire, we know, at any rate, that the Foreign Minister is responsible for all the French who are abroad or living abroad. I've announced the repatriation of 2,000 French. This is the latest official figure. Today, how many have you repatriated so far?
THE MINISTER – As we speak, this morning, 2,600 French have been repatriated on flights chartered by the Foreign Ministry and, of the 1,400 other European citizens repatriated by other flights – notably European flights chartered by our neighbours and friends whom I want to thank – there are also a large number of French. All in all, nearly 4,000 people have returned from Côte d'Ivoire, many of whom probably for good. I want to express the feeling of solidarity and shock we feel daily, personally on hearing the first-hand accounts from all these Europeans, all these French, of the scandalous atrocities they've been victims of, the violent acts. I also want to say a word of thanks to all those who, in Côte d'Ivoire and here in Paris, are providing them with accommodation and help. Q. – Excuse me for asking you the question so directly, but, to the knowledge of the Quai d'Orsay, over the past few days, how many women have been raped?
THE MINISTER – The investigations will reveal the exact scale and gravity of these atrocities. In any case, we know that a number of women have suffered this brutal treatment and President Chirac himself has said how scandalous and intolerable it is; moreover the guilty will have to answer for their actions. Q. – Several dozen?
THE MINISTER – I can't give you the figures, don't ask me for figures which the investigations will have to determine. Q. – But now that we're beginning to understand what has really gone on, can you still believe in a political solution to the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire?
THE MINISTER – But what solution other than a political one is conceivable? Without this, the violence would continue or grow. I hear it said that the Marcoussis Agreement is dead. What was Marcoussis in January 2003? It was the attempt to achieve the reconciliation of that country, cut in two, which President Chirac earnestly appealed for again yesterday. The politicians in Côte d'Ivoire who are responsible for their country's future, M. Gbagbo, M. Soro, M. Ouattaria, M. Bédié and others as well, must shoulder their responsibility vis-à-vis the new generations of young Ivorians. Q. – Laurent Gbagbo, in an interview in the "Washington Post", is now going as far as casting doubt on the deaths of the nine French soldiers". "I haven't seen any bodies, I haven't seen anything" he says. Is that the man you want to make a political agreement with in Côte d'Ivoire?
THE MINISTER – 48 hours ago, President Chirac and I were with the families of those nine soldiers to whom I want to pay tribute, and we are well aware of the tragedy of that attack which I have described as deliberate. I don't know who decided on it. Q. – A week later, and we still don't know who the pilots were and which man gave them the order?
THE MINISTER – We thought and have said that it was a deliberate attack by Ivorian fighter planes. That's why President Chirac immediately responded by ordering the destruction of all those planes so that they can no longer attack our soldiers. Q. – Yesterday on Europe 1, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Bentégeat said that personally, he clearly said "personally", he didn't think Laurent Gbagbo had given the order.
THE MINISTER – But I've just told you the same thing, we don't know at what level the order was given. In any case, someone took the responsibility of deliberately firing, after twice flying low over this camp of French soldiers – who weren't there to fight but to bring peace – and finally firing on the camp and causing nine deaths and injuring dozens of other people. Q. – Basically, how can France go on hoping to act as arbitrator when all the parties are rejecting her?
THE MINISTER – First of all, I want to repeat that Côte d'Ivoire is and will remain a friend of France and that we shall remain a friend of Côte d'Ivoire. Ever since this crisis began, we haven't sought to act alone, to hold an exclusive dialogue with the Ivorians, we have sought to work – because we have a shared history in that country, a shared language – with the African Union and the United Nations. Yesterday, in Cairo, I had a discussion with President Mbeki, the President of South Africa, who went to Côte d'Ivoire just a few days ago to try and get President Gbagbo and the other partners to see reason and resume the political dialogue. We aren't acting alone, we're acting in Côte d'Ivoire on the basis of same principles as we are in other crises, in the Great Lakes, Haiti and Iraq: security for the people, regional stability, legitimacy of the institutions and territorial integrity. Q. – So you repeat that there are no solutions other than a political agreement?
THE MINISTER – Obviously, these men and women, who are responsible for their country's destiny and future, have to get round a table so as to make the institutions function and find a political solution. Q. – Yesterday in Cairo, you were representing France at the official funeral of Mr Arafat, with heads of State and government, with ministers, but without the people who could show their feelings only when he was brought back to Ramallah for burial. Yesterday in Washington, at Tony Blair's side, George Bush said he thought a Palestinian State was possible by the end of his term of office, in 2009. Do you believe it? And for you, is this the first bit of good news in the post-Arafat era?
THE MINISTER – Yes, I believe it, since President Bush has already said this. The sooner the better, even before the end of his term of office, I believe it's possible to create, perhaps even within temporary borders, this Palestinian State which is one of the conditions on which depend the peace and security of all the region's countries and particularly Israel. I remind you, moreover, that the Roadmap, on which we are all agree, clearly sets the two-State goal, a State of Israel living in security... Q. – And before 2009?
THE MINISTER – As soon as possible, the sooner the better and I think it's possible to move faster. Today, there's a new chapter to write, which entails first holding elections in Palestine. Q. – Can elections be organized in Palestine in 60 days, as provided for by the Palestinian Constitution?
THE MINISTER – It's possible and necessary. Of course, the cooperation of the State of Israel will be needed to facilitate the electoral process, given what the Palestinian Territories are, but it's possible and necessary. It's the first stage in this new chapter. Secondly, there's the peace, the political dialogue, the cessation of violence, and the Roadmap which is so important to us and which President Bush, Tony Blair – who is talking as a European leader –, the Russians, the Europeans, who are unanimous about this, are determined to implement. Q. – A few days ago you published "A letter to an American friend" in which you called for joint or complementary actions by Europe and the United States in the Middle East.
THE MINISTER – This is one, and it was the first. Q. – You also refer to Africa. When you see Laurent Gbagbo continually turning to the United States, for example, asking him to postpone the scheduled vote at the Security Council, don't you ever wonder about the United States' action in Côte d'Ivoire?
THE MINISTER – Right at the heart of this Côte d'Ivoire crisis, the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, expressed to me extremely clearly his solidarity with France, his shock and sadness at the attack which caused the deaths of the nine French soldiers; there's been no lack of immediate solidarity in this crisis on the part of the United States and other Security Council countries. And to return to the Middle East, which for our generation is the main issue, it's the duty of our generation to get the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians restarted through their dialogue, through political means rather than violence: I think this is an urgent, priority task for the Americans and Europeans together. (...)./
Embassy of France in the United States - November 15, 2004
|
