Today's Date:

My dear compatriots,

The events we have just experienced are serious. They have brought human tragedy and considerable material losses. Cases are before the courts: they will get to the bottom of things, and will be resolute. Compensation procedures will be speeded up. To all the victims, their families, I want to express my sadness and the solidarity of the whole nation.

These events testify to a profound malaise. Some people caused fires in the very neighbourhoods where they live, they burned their neighbours and relatives’ cars, they attacked their primary and secondary schools.

It’s a crisis of direction, a lack of points of reference, a crisis of identity.

We shall respond to it by being firm, fair and true to France’s values.

Confronted with the violence of the past weeks, with the suffering and difficulties of so many of our fellow citizens, particularly some of the most vulnerable, the first necessity is to restore law and order. I have given the government the means to act. In particular, I have decided to propose to Parliament the extension, for a limited period, of the application of the Act of 3 April 1955. Those who attack property and people have to know that in the Republic you don’t break the law without being arrested, prosecuted and punished. And I want to pay tribute to the forces of law and order, the police, gendarmes, firemen, mayors and councillors, judges, social workers, teachers and voluntary organizations which have rallied to restore calm and peace. They are a credit to the Republic.

Many French have problems, difficulties. But violence never solves anything. When you belong to our national community, you abide by its rules.

Children, teenagers need values, points of reference. Parental authority is vitally important. Families must fulfil all their responsibilities. Those refusing to do so must be punished, as the law provides. Those experiencing major difficulties must, on the other hand, be actively supported.

At stake is not only respect for the law, but also the success of our integration policy. We have to be strict in the application of the rules for family reunion. We must step up the fight against illegal immigration and the trafficking it generates. We must intensify action against illegal labour networks, the modern form of slavery.

But support for the Republic's law and values has of necessity to be obtained through justice, fraternity and generosity. This is what belonging to a national community means. The respect owed to everyone is displayed through words and looks, with our hearts and in our actions. And I want to tell the children from problem neighbourhoods that, regardless of their origins, they are all the Republic's daughters and sons.

We shall build nothing lasting without respect. We shall build nothing lasting if we allow the rise, from wherever it comes, of racism, intolerance, insults and abusive behaviour.

We shall build nothing lasting without fighting against the poison for society that is discrimination.

We shall build nothing lasting if we don't recognize and don't accept the diversity of French society. It is written in our history. It's a source of wealth and a strength.

My dear compatriots,

The duty of the Republic is to offer everyone everywhere the same opportunities. Thanks to schools, thanks to the work of their teachers, a substantial number of young people from problem neighbourhoods are succeeding in every sphere. But some areas suffer from too many disadvantages, too many problems. Areas confronted with violence and trafficking. Areas with massive unemployment and inhuman urban landscapes. Areas where children have dropped out of school, where too many youngsters find it hard to get jobs, even when they have made a success of their studies.

This situation obviously lies at the roots of the events we have just experienced.

We are actively working to address it. Much is already under way: the urban enterprise areas [an initiative offering tax breaks and other incentives to businesses locating in the most deprived of France's urban neighbourhoods] to bring jobs back into these areas; the urban regeneration plan to replace the vast areas of tower blocks by a more human-friendly living environment; the social cohesion plan to remove one by one the disadvantages suffered by the most vulnerable; strong measures to enable families overburdened with debt to extricate themselves from it; the "reception and integration contract" [covering benefits and responsibilities]. The School Act is coming into force: it will enable every pupil to acquire the basics and allow us to combat more effectively the scourge of illiteracy.

And the government has just taken some new decisions to provide more help to people and areas which have fewer advantages than the others.

I can tell you that France's political will and major financial commitment are unprecedented. These are beginning to provide answers to the problems of the difficult neighbourhoods. But this is of necessity a long-term effort.

However, my dear compatriots, we won't change things radically without the commitment of everyone. Without a radical change in attitudes.

We belong to a great nation, not only because of its history, but also because of the principles on which it was founded. A nation with global reach.

And this evening I want to tell the French, and more especially the youngest of them, that over and above the doubts and difficulties everyone may experience, we must all be proud of belonging to a community which has the will to practise the principles of equality and solidarity and makes considerable efforts to do so. We are lucky to belong to the French community. Everyone must realize this and act in consequence.

But I also want to tell all the French that if this singular model is to continue to thrive, is to retain its full strength, we can't compromise on certain principles.

As we know full well, discrimination saps the very foundations of our Republic. A High Authority for the Fight against Discrimination has been set up. It has substantial powers since it will now be able to impose sanctions. But let's make no mistake here. This battle can be won only if each and every one of us genuinely and personally engages in it.

Companies and trade unions must also mobilize on the essential issue of diversity and the employment of youngsters from problem areas. It isn't a matter of bringing in a quota system, which in a way points the finger at those benefiting from them and is unfair for those not entitled to them. The aim is to give all young people the same opportunities in the job market. How many CVs still go straight into the bin because of the applicant's name or address? I shall be meeting representatives of the social partners to discuss this in the next few days.

To provide better help for young people – particularly those with problems – in finding employment, I have decided to create a voluntary civilian service, combining support and training. 50,000 youngsters will benefit from it in 2007.

I am also calling on all local councillors to comply with the law requiring them to have at least 20% of social housing.

Oh, I am aware of the difficulties. But we won't resolve the present situation if we don't make our actions match our words.

I shall also be meeting all the television and radio authorities. The media must more accurately reflect the reality of today's France.

And I urge the leaders of the political parties to do their bit: the elected representatives, Parliament must also reflect France's diversity. This is an imperative if we are to make our democracy flourish.

My dear compatriots,

Let's be clear-sighted. Let's be courageous. Let's learn all the lessons from this crisis. Everyone must abide by the rules, everyone must know that the law can't be broken with impunity. But let's also find the way to come together and act in accordance with the principles which make France what she is: the whole national community will emerge better and stronger.

And you can count on my determination.

Long live the Republic! Long live France!./.