Today's Date:

I would like to thank the American Jewish Committee, and particularly its representative in Paris, Ms. Valerie Hoffenberg, for organizing the dinner that brings us here this evening. I am delighted to meet you and, for those I already know, to see you again.

I would like to establish the closest possible ties with American Jewish organizations. In this spirit, it gives me great pleasure to receive your delegations at the Quai d’Orsay in order to pursue the rich and fruitful dialogue we have enjoyed for several years now.

The contacts that our Embassy in Washington and our 10 consulates-general in the United States maintain in their respective jurisdictions with your associations, your press outlets, your cultural centers and your synagogues are also part of our wish for a sincere, constructive and regular dialogue with the American Jewish community. Thank you for your contributions to this dialogue.

I would like to remind you, this evening, of the mechanisms the French government has put in place to fight racism and anti-Semitism in France.

Anti-Semitism is in total contradiction with the values of France and the values of the Republic.

As President Chirac expressed so forcefully, “an attack against a Jew is an attack against France itself.”

Confronted with this scourge, the French government’s determination is absolute.

The establishment, in 2003, of the Interministerial Committee to Fight Racism and anti-Semitism, a coordinating body chaired by the prime minister, testifies to the entire government’s commitment to this fight.

The French government’s pro-active approach since 2002 has translated into a large number of measures taken in close coordination with the Jewish community in several priority areas: protection, suppression, education, means of communication and international cooperation.

Protection, because since the summer of 2002, we have boosted security at Jewish community establishments. In liaison with local communities, the government is also overseeing the protection of cemeteries.

Suppression, insofar as we have strengthened our legislation by ensuring that the existence of racist or anti-Semitic motives in the commission of a crime is an aggravating circumstance resulting in a heavier sentence. Moreover, we have given very firm instructions to the public prosecutors’ offices, which are invited to appeal sentences deemed overly lenient. For example, the author of Nazi graffiti on the Douaumont memorial was sentenced to two years in prison, including one without the possibility of parole.

Education, because we believe that school is the best place to fight racism and anti-Semitism. A “Republican booklet” inspired by the ideal of tolerance and mutual respect has been widely distributed in schools. A system for identifying and dealing with racist and anti-Semitic acts in learning environments was established in academies. I know that several American Jewish organizations have developed programs to raise awareness in the academic environment. I welcome cooperative projects they could undertake with the French education ministry in the near future.

Our pedagogical approach also consists of developing a curriculum about religions. Without turning our backs on our attachment to secularism, we want to fight against ignorance of religion because we intend to develop in our children a true spirit of tolerance based on the knowledge of the Other’s values and beliefs.

Our government’s effort also applies to means of communication. Thanks to adaptations in our laws, the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, as you know, was able in December 2004 to prohibit broadcasting by the al-Manar network over French territory due to the anti-Semitic content of its programming. Likewise, we interrupted al-Manar’s signal to Asia and South America which had been relayed by Globecast, a subsidiary of France Telecom.

Finally, efforts undertaken in France to fight racism and anti-Semitism are also being undertaken abroad though international cooperation with the EU, the UN and the OSCE. We are particularly attached to the definition of an ethical code to counter Internet abuse.

Our fight against anti-Semitism thus takes many forms. And it is unflagging.

Today we are seeing our policies bear fruit. Indeed, we recently learned that the number of anti-Semitic acts reported during the first quarter of 2005 dropped nearly 50 percent compared with the same period in 2004. Violent acts have fallen the most, with three times fewer incidents reported in 2005 than in 2004.

However we must remain vigilant and continue our efforts.

As the French authorities strongly emphasized during the commemoration of the Liberation of the camps and the end of World War II, there is no room in France for anti-Semitism, and there is only one strategy with respect to racism: zero tolerance.

I would like to conclude on this point by noting that last June, the government established a High Authority to Fight Against Discrimination and For Equality (HALDE). Certainly, victims of discrimination or associations were already able to appeal to the courts, but the government wanted to reach out to victims by creating an institution to which the public, or itself, can refer any matter involving discrimination. All forms of discrimination—whether rooted in racism, religious intolerance, sexism, homophobia or a rejection of the handicapped; whether observed in the course of a job or housing search or any other circumstance—fall under the jurisdiction of this High Authority. The HALDE’s mission is to help victims of discrimination obtain reparations. If its mediation fails, it is empowered to bring cases before the court. In this way, the government has given itself a new tool to strengthen equal opportunity and thereby foster the integration of all groups into French society.

Now I would like to speak briefly about France’s Mideast policy.

Last July, we had the pleasure of receiving Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Paris. As all observers noted, the visit was a great success and was characterized by a particularly warm atmosphere. Mr. Sharon paid high tribute to the president’s efforts. Naturally, we were very pleased by this. President Chirac praised Prime Minister Sharon’s exceptional courage with regard to the process of withdrawal from Gaza.

I myself visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories last week to assess the means France could provide in order to contribute to Gaza’s development following the Israeli withdrawal.

What France hopes to see in the Mideast is of course peace, security and reconciliation. In order for this to happen, there must be a viable, democratic Palestinian State co-existing peacefully with Israel.

As for Lebanon, tomorrow I will take part, with Condoleezza Rice, in a ministerial meeting aimed at contributing to the reconstruction of that country in the context of the new reality that is taking shape there.

With respect to other regional issues, you know that my country is a committed player. Naturally, I am thinking of Iran, where we, along with our British and German friends, are engaged in difficult negotiations on the nuclear issue.

I am ready to respond to any questions you may have on these different issues.

The determined fight against racism and anti-Semitism, the fight against discrimination and in favor of integration, the promotion of an education of tolerance and an international effort on behalf of peace are the basic French policy orientations. I want to thank you for the opportunity you have given me to present them to you this evening.

Certainly, France is an old country, but it is a country that takes action and is modernizing; a country that evolves and confronts challenges, in order to remain ever worthy of its motto: liberty, equality, fraternity. For just as with the ideals of the American Revolution, the ideals of the French Revolution do not belong to the past. They inspire us today and illuminate our path.

I am counting on you to share with the members of your respective organizations the efforts France is making with respect to the subjects we have just raised.

Thank you./.