| Publications | France A-Z | France/U.S. Relations | France in the U.S. | News | Aller aux Etats-Unis | Just for Kids | Going to France | Contact |
|
Iran/Middle East
Interview given by Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to "Les Quatre Vérités" programme on "France 2"(excerpts) Paris, February 16, 2006 IRAN Q. – Another issue for you as Foreign Minister, Iran, who has resumed the enrichment of her uranium, with the risk of this leading to a military nuclear programme. What's to be done, what can the international community do?
THE MINISTER – Today, it's very simple, no civilian nuclear programme can explain the Iranian nuclear programme. So it's an Iranian secret military programme. Q. – So what do we do?
THE MINISTER – It's simple, in the first place, the international community has sent a very firm message, saying to the Iranians: "See reason, suspend all uranium enrichment and conversion activities", and they aren't listening to us. This is why, for the first time for some days, the international community is united. It's not just the other Europeans behind France, Germany and Britain, but Russia and China too. And this united international community has decided to refer the issue to the United Nations Security Council to which the report of Mr ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, will be submitted in early March. Once that's done, it will be up to the Security Council, and it alone, to say what it intends doing, what means it intends giving itself in order to halt, manage, end this terrible nuclear proliferation crisis due to Iran's unilateral action. MIDDLE EAST/HAMAS Q. – A word on the Middle East, since Hamas came to power, Israel has quite simply been threatening to sever all links with the Palestinians. Russia, on the contrary, is inviting Hamas to Moscow. What’s the right position? What do France and Europe think?
THE MINISTER – Hamas is facing a historic decision. The Russians have told Hamas to face up to its responsibilities. We’re telling Hamas: “Recognize Israel, recognize the agreements between Israel and the PLO. And then, above all, say explicitly, publicly, that you’re going to stop the violence, then we can begin a debate.” We have faith in Mahmoud Abbas. Mahmoud Abbas and, in his time, Ariel Sharon, and also today Ehud Olmert are people who trust each another. It’s a historic moment, we’ve got to move from violence to dialogue. This violence and hatred must stop. This will happen only provided there’s respect for the Other. In my opinion, we’re very near to this, on one condition: that Hamas joins the political process, and stops and renounces the violence. (…)./. Related articles
Embassy of France in the United States - February 16, 2006
|
