Today's Date:

Iraq/Middle East

Interview given by Michel Barnier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to “RMC – Moyen-Orient”.

Paris, September 28, 2004

IRAQ/INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE/US FORCES’ WITHDRAWAL

France quite obviously isn’t laying down any preconditions for this conference. We’re simply keen for all the conditions for making a success of this conference to be fulfilled. I want to reiterate that to resolve this very serious Iraq crisis there has to be a political, democratic process – we’ve always said this, particularly at the United Nations – and, moreover, this is precisely what UNSCR 1546 provides for with all its various steps. And it’s here that a conference can be useful in order to check that there is very wide acceptance for these different steps in Iraq, of course, by all those rejecting violence and, beyond Iraq, by all the countries of the region in whose interest it is to have a stable Iraq.

MULTINATIONAL FORCE/FRANCE

Among the steps laid down in UNSCR 1546, remember, there’s the question of the multinational force’s continued presence or withdrawal, and this is a matter which will have to be addressed.

We’ve said and I want to repeat – I said this at the United Nations – that there aren't and won't be any French soldiers in Iraq for reasons of principle. But I've also said that, working alongside them, we shall help the Iraqi people rebuild their country and their institutions.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE/ELECTIONS

For such a conference to be successful, obviously the maximum, the greatest number of communities, of Iraqi political forces must be involved, be included in this political process – and I did indeed say: including all those who, at some point or other, have resisted, but who today choose to give up violence.

We are still working within the framework of UNSCR 1546, which includes among the steps [towards Iraq's political transition to democratic government] elections before 31 January 2005. It's extremely important to make a success of this step. This is why we think that it’s important before the end of the year to hold a conference bringing together as many as possible of Iraq's political forces and communities and all the countries in the region, and perhaps also other countries from the international community, in order to bolster, support the process and particularly this first step.

No, we’re going to discuss at the United Nations – the framework we've sought from the outset, which is the framework for debate and international action –, we’ve discussed a good possible date with the partners we’re working with. It's not so much the date which is important – after or before the US election – what's important is to make a success of this conference and to do so with all those who have to, who want to take part in it by putting on its agenda all the matters, steps set out in

UNSCR 1546.

Quite frankly, this must be a joint decision. We have talked about the United Nations for the discussion which has to take place – but why not one of the capitals in the region? Once again, what's important is for everyone together to discuss frankly both the agenda and the place and conditions for making the conference a success.

IRANIAN CONSUL RELEASE/KIDNAPPED FRENCH JOURNALISTS/MUSLIM HEADSCARF

It gives us some encouragement to continue our efforts and we welcomed, first of all for him and for his country, the Iranian Consul's release. And so we are continuing our efforts.

As you will have noted, we are currently working discreetly, having previously explained at both public and diplomatic levels the whys and wherefores of the French Republican Act on secularity (laïcité). This Act on the wearing of religious signs in State schools is being applied in a spirit of dialogue, as the government formally pledged it would be. The results of its implementation will be assessed for the future and, to do this, the government will be asking Parliament to set up a commission. Representatives of France's Muslims will obviously contribute to the commission's work on the Act’s implementation and we shall take account of this new appraisal for the future. (...)

I can't say any more about the fate of Christian Chesnot, Georges Malbrunot and their Syrian driver, patience and discretion must prevail because the hostages' safety is today our prime concern.

There was the explanatory effort we carried out in the region and from Paris, all together, and which I'm continuing, in particular by answering your question on the Republican Act and the spirit of dialogue in which we want to implement this Act on secularity. In the past fortnight, going beyond that and with this explanation, we have been in a new phase in which we have to be both discreet and patient and, once again, I think that everyone has to understand this because it's the condition, one of the conditions on which the safety of Christian Chesnot, Georges Malbrunot and their Syrian driver depends./.