Today's Date:

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US/TERRORISM/POVERTY

THE PRIME MINISTER – America isn’t saying anything new here, so I welcome anything in this vein, there’s no denying the fact that in our world, poverty, injustice can fuel the cycle of violence, so it’s very important to deal with this extremely difficult issue at source. What’s important too for a country like France is for us to realize that the best way of fighting poverty, of fighting for development, is in a multilateral framework, so in the United Nations framework, in that of the relevant bodies which, collectively, can enable us to be effective. So clearly it’s important not just to go on affirming principles, saying what is actually happening in the world, but also to press the need for us all to move forward together in order to find appropriate responses to such scourges.

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UNSC REFORM

THE PRIME MINISTER – As far as the reform of the Security Council is concerned, as you know, we support the G4’s initiatives, we consider it important, so that the Security Council is as representative as possible, for the necessary room to be found for the four States and, similarly, for Africa also to be properly represented.

I believe we’ve got to respect the general framework and try and provide global answers to these questions, it’s the best way to take account, at the right time, of all the requests, all the legitimate aspirations in this respect.

So, it’s up to the African countries, the G4 countries, to talk to each other and see how we might satisfy all these States, and I believe this is a process which is going to continue over the next month and, of course, we’re hoping an agreement can be achieved by the end of the year.

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THE PRIME MINISTER – That’s what we’re working for and we hope it will be possible. If everyone works towards the same goal and is keen for us to have a good outcome, it's possible.

PLANE TICKET LEVY/DEVELOPMENT FINANCING/INNOVATIVE SOURCES

THE PRIME MINISTER – I think your dramatization of this doesn't reflect the reality of developments in world air transport, which hasn't stopped growing – 5% in the past year. That means the traffic is still growing. Today we’re saying that official development assistance is not increasing fast enough given the international commitments we have undertaken and the priority we want to give development.

In this context, we have to find other resources. Among these, we are putting the emphasis on innovative financing mechanisms. President Chirac has called for this tax, contribution on plane tickets, and we've talked about a modest tax on each plane ticket, possibly about €5 for a standard one, or even a bit more for a business or first class ticket, which would provide very substantial aid, since I've talked about the figure of €10 billion which could be collected in this way.

Our idea is very simple, it’s like a snowball. It’s – with the support of France, of countries like the United Kingdom and Chile, others which are already keen to go down this road – (...) to open up a new possibility of financing. Other ideas are possible and we could talk about other areas like financial exchanges. The British idea of an International Finance Facility is also interesting since it will help facilitate everything to do with vaccination, particularly of children in poor countries. As you can see, there's room for generosity, for imagination, and we mustn't be satisfied with what exists, which is obviously not enough.

MULTILATERALISM

THE PRIME MINISTER – As you know, it's a constant battle. It won't have escaped you that we are in a difficult world, marked by a lot of insecurity, a lot of instability, a lot of fragility. So victory in the battle for multilateralism isn't a foregone conclusion. What's clear to me is that a world which comes together and supports the legitimate institutions we have given ourselves at international level is one which moves towards greater security, greater stability. (...)

I'm sure that the more we come together, the more we pool our efforts, the more we define common tools and principles, the more headway we make. This is why I'm happy today to see the progress of the idea of a Human Rights Council. Certainly, I know that fleshing it out will be a difficult battle, as will deciding on its strength, terms of reference and scope, the responsibility to protect. This is a milestone when you look back and remember such huge tests for the international community as Rwanda, Cambodia and Kosovo. We shall have – again it's up to us to give it terms of reference and the scope we wish – a very important tool in the event of the international situation worsening, in the event of a State running into difficulty, with this need for the international community to take over its role if necessary. (...) Ultimately, when we’re mobilized, we get results. When, on the contrary, the members of the international community go their own way, we also see the consequences. I believe what is making headway behind all this, going beyond the States, is the international conscience, the conscience of the peoples. (...)

COTE D'IVOIRE

THE PRIME MINISTER – Even if you are right to say there's still uncertainty on the date, the essential decision-making event in the Ivorian process is clearly the presidential election. It's an essential step in the task of rebuilding Côte d'Ivoire. Of course, we'd like these to be free and transparent. It's for the United Nations Secretary-General's High Representative for the Elections, Mr Monteiro, to decide on the nature and extent of the elections' postponement. You remember they were scheduled to take place before 30 October. It's important for the Security Council to be able to support the process by keeping up the pressure on all the parties to get the agreements applied in full. It's also necessary to work for a reintegration process and project offering a genuine incentive to disarm. France intends pursuing alongside the United Nations her efforts in the framework of Operation Licorne and of her Security Council responsibilities. For us it's essential for these elections to be held as soon as possible and for all the parties to understand that the higher interest of Côte d'Ivoire is at stake./.