Q. – Unlike Britain, Ireland and Sweden, France hasn't liberalized her labour market for the Slovaks. When is France envisaging removing the obstacles to freedom of movement for Slovak workers?

Q. – Practically a year after the entry into the European Union of ten new countries, including Slovakia, how to you see her accession? What in your view are its major positive and negative aspects? THE MINISTER – First of all, the accession of the ten new member States is a milestone in Europe's history: the enlargement has sealed the continent's reunification, put an end to the divisions of the past, and Europe has thus been able to regain its political geography.

Secondly, it is strengthening the EU's economic weight and allowing it to occupy its rightful place on the international stage. I believe that Slovakia has made a positive contribution in these spheres and has been able to take full advantage of the benefits of her accession. Because with a membership of twenty-five, each of us is stronger. Also being twenty-five we are, all together, stronger. It's an opportunity we must build on to take Europe forward to everyone's benefit.

CROATIA/EU/ICTY

THE MINISTER – The EU had decided that the accession negotiations with Croatia would open in March 2005, provided that country was cooperating fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). It's a condition which has to be fulfilled before the negotiations can open. So the EU assessed the quality of this cooperation and many members considered it had to be improved. This is why the EU decided to postpone the opening of the negotiations. But it has also pledged to open them as soon as it notes full cooperation with the ICTY. So we are encouraging Croatia to make every possible effort so that her full cooperation with the ICTY can be recognized by everyone and the negotiations can thus begin.

TURKEY/EU

THE MINISTER – In the light of that country's progress, the European Union has just decided to open accession negotiations in October. It is likely to be a long process, lasting at least ten years, during which the European Union will negotiate with Turkey the terms and conditions of her accession. And at the end of this process the French people will have their say on this accession. In the intervening period, during the negotiations, we shall have to look at the potential impact of Turkey's entry and take the necessary measures to safeguard the EU's balance in the event of her accession.

US/CHINA/ARMS EMBARGO/TAIWAN

THE MINSTER – We are aware of the concerns the United States has voiced about lifting the embargo. A European Union delegation went to Washington to explain to the American Administration and Congress the essentially symbolic significance of lifting the embargo on arms sales to China.

In seeking the lifting of the embargo, the European Union is pursuing a political not commercial objective. Neither we nor any other member State intends taking advantage of the lifting of the embargo in order to increase the sales of arms to China. President Chirac has reasserted this in the clearest possible way: the Europeans do not intend developing their arms sales.

The European Council conclusions of 17 December 2004 also stressed that lifting the embargo would not result in any increase at all in arms exports to China, either in qualitative or quantitative terms.

IRAQ/US/FRANCE

THE MINISTER – France is firmly engaged in the effort to make a success of the political process set out in UNSCR 1546. She has mobilized to encourage Iraq's return to stability and her recovery. Above all, France is keen to see the Iraqi people rapidly regain full control of their destiny.

At national level, my country is already working alongside the Iraqis, particularly in the fields of education, health, archaeology and humanitarian assistance. It is going to pursue with Japan and Germany the ongoing cooperation on training senior national and regional civil servants. France has also signalled her willingness to train the future Iraqi gendarmerie. Finally, with the European Union, she is working on consolidating the rule of law and training the Iraqi police.

At the economic level, France has agreed to the cancelling of 80% of the Iraqi debt on the terms and conditions set by the Paris Club. For our public finances this involves an outlay of several billion dollars. So it's difficult to assert that France is not playing her full part in Iraq's political and economic reconstruction.

UN REFORM

THE MINISTER – France warmly welcomed the Secretary-General's report on reforming the UN. I note in particular his call for there at last to be an enlargement of the Security Council. In this respect, the creation of new permanent seats is desirable in order to strengthen the Council's legitimacy and authority. We support the aspirations of Germany, Japan, India and Brazil. We would also like Africa to have its full place on this enlarged Security Council, including among the permanent members. The new permanent members should enjoy all the prerogatives associated with this status. Creation of these new permanent seats must of course be accompanied by that of more non-permanent seats so that the enlargement benefits not just the developed countries, but above all the developing ones.

Finally, as a European, I shall see to it that any reform maintains a place for the EU States which is commensurate with their role and capability in maintaining international peace and security. Moreover, this seems to us to reflect the wishes of the rest of the world, which is earnestly calling for the Europeans to be more involved in these matters.

EU/NATO/GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS

THE MINISTER – The EU has clearly set goals in this sphere: Bulgaria and Romania are scheduled to join the European Union in 2007; it has decided to open accession negotiations with Croatia and Turkey, and has recognized that the Western Balkan countries are natural candidates for one day joining the EU, once the conditions have been fulfilled. For the other countries, those in Europe's neighbourhood, the EU has put in place an ambitious policy to establish special relations with them.

Finally, you must not forget that the process of European Union enlargement has always gone hand in hand with its deepening. There were fears that extending Europe's borders could prevent the EU's smooth operation. Experience shows that, on the contrary, Europe has grown stronger, and the best example remains the adoption by the Twenty-Five of a Constitution which makes the enlarged Europe more democratic, more transparent and also more efficient.

RUSSIA/CHECHNYA

THE MINISTER – On Chechnya, the French position is clear and hasn't changed, regardless of the words or phrases used. It won't be possible to end this terrible tragedy until a genuine political approach, respecting the rule of law and human rights, is adopted.

This is the fundamental message which we, Europeans, have to endeavour to get across to the Russian authorities./.