Today's Date:

Iraq/Middle East

Interview given by Michel Barnier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to "France Inter" (excerpts).

Paris, September 27, 2004

SAUDI ARABIA

I extend my sympathy to Laurent Barbot's family – whom I called yesterday –, all those close to him, and his firm. I don't believe France was targeted, I think that foreigners are in danger, there as in other towns in the region, and that care has to be taken. As in other circumstances, other terrorist attacks, including in Saudi Arabia a few weeks, or months ago, we immediately mobilized the embassy's services which are permanently ready and willing to assist, and organized. We have also asked businesses to take additional precautions.

IRAQ/FRENCH HOSTAGES

In this crisis we entered a new phase around ten days ago now. I won't change the attitude I’ve had from the outset, calling for prudence when it comes to statements – for reasons to do with the safety of Christian Chesnot, Georges Malbrunot and their Syrian chauffeur – and patience. That's what I can say today.

IRAQ/INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Indeed, the situation in Iraq is clearly one of chaos, with widespread insecurity even in Baghdad's Green Zone. The other day, a shell fell on a car in the French embassy courtyard and it's clear from the daily kidnappings which have affected – we haven't forgotten them – not just two of your colleagues, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, and their Syrian chauffeur, but also other people every day.

Indeed this chaos – as I said at the United Nations General Assembly – risks destabilizing, sweeping through the whole region. A few weeks ago, I even spoke about a black hole. So we must get out of this black hole, end this spiral of violence and terror. We can do this only through negotiation and a political process. This is precisely what has been provided for in UNSCR 1546 which we approved after working on it with all those involved at the United Nations. There are several stages in the political process: democratic elections, since the only possible solution lies in giving the Iraqi people the power themselves to decide their destiny next January; a new Constitution; and then a referendum on this new Constitution. Then the question of the presence of the international forces, and particularly the US troops will have to be considered: how long will they stay?

All these questions are part of the political agenda and, for me, the conference referred to just now – which we with the Russians were the first to call for over a year ago and which I personally spoke about on arriving at the Quai d'Orsay – must have all these subjects on its agenda.

So the question isn't whether to hold this conference before or after the US elections, but how to make a success of it, make it useful. This conference would have to allow the inclusion in the political process not only of the Iraqi political forces, the different communities, but also of all the countries in the region.

Of course, because you can't organize democratic credible elections without a minimum level of security. So that's the whole problem today. But there isn't, I repeat, any alternative to this political and democratic process, except the terror, weapons and horror we are seeing today.

Millimetre by millimetre, step by step, this political process has to be rebuilt, bolstered, and, first of all, this requires the inclusion in the process of all the Iraqi political forces from the different communities, including a number of groups and people who have today opted for the path of resistance though the use of weapons, suggesting they join this political process. And then, there's a second "inclusivity" – if I can use this somewhat complicated word – which consists in involving all the region's countries which are all affected by the destabilization we're seeing today.

KOFI ANNAN/ILLEGAL WAR

I’ve had several meetings with the US leaders during the week spent in New York, President Bush came, Colin Powell and I had a lot of discussions. I get the feeling – and it's welcome since this is what France and some other countries were asking for – that in the face of such a crisis, the only possible way out is that of international law and action in the framework of international law. We are now in a process established within the framework of a United Nations resolution which we have all approved, so we have to stick to it. Everything which can get the inclusion of the region's countries in this process, together with the international community – a bit like what happened in Berlin with the conference on Afghanistan – in order to return to the framework of international law, New York and the United Nations, will be welcome.

US MILITARY WITHDRAWAL

This question will arise and it’s raised by UNSCR 1546 (...). It's very probably one of the questions which will have to figure, among other matters to do with the political stages, on the agenda of such a conference if we want it to take place and want it to succeed. At what point will the international troops, particularly the US troops, have to withdraw in order to bolster this political process and ensure that the only possible path is the one we choose together, that of Iraq governed by the Iraqis? That's what's needed: the sovereignty of this people. (...)./.