Iraq…
Statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, 9 July 2007)
“France condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack again on the Iraqi civilian population in the village of Ermeli, near Kirkuk, which killed over 150 people.
In the past two days, at least 220 Iraqi civilians have died. France condemns these unspeakable acts that continue to stain Iraq in blood.
It offers its condolences to the victims’ families and friends and to the Iraq authorities, and assures them of its sadness and profound compassion.
Once again it urges all Iraqis to unite to reject violence and find the ways to reconciliation, peace and security.”
Kosovo…
Press Conference given by Mr. Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs (Geneva, 5 July 2007)
As you were the first UN administrator in Kosovo, what do you think of the diplomatic initiative on Kosovo's future? Do you think prolonging Kosovo's status can destabilize the region and backfire on the international committee?
I don't think it can destabilize what the war has already destabilized. I believe the Kosovo question is one of the most difficult international diplomacy, world politics has had to face at the moral, political and economic levels.
However, anything is preferable to war. It's eight years now since the international community intervened in Kosovo, in two ways.
Through NATO's intervention we came to the aid of a people who were victims of the militia and Serbian army, even though sadly there was a significant loss of life.
On the basis of UNSCR 1244, the United Nations helped restore a semblance of normal life in the country and allowed a move towards substantial autonomy. At the time, I was involved in this as the United Nations Secretary-General's special representative.
After eight years, a decision must now be taken. We can't have lots of troops occupying Serbia indefinitely, and incidents, although less frequent than before, continuing to occur.
There's a resolution, on the basis of a plan by Mr Marti Ahtisaari, an eminent man of peace and former president of Finland. Having found no other solutions through a 14-month dialogue between the protagonists – the Serbs and the Albanians from Kosovo – this plan provides for eventual independence.
At the Heiligendamm summit, President Sarkozy said – since the Russians, my old friend Sergey Lavrov, had for the first time used the word "veto"–: "we need more time to convince the Serbs and the Albanians from Kosovo and there needs to be another resolution". He asked for a further six months. Ms Condoleezza Rice had asked for 120 days.
That's where we are at the moment. The new resolution is going to emerge. It's a very difficult task, in New York, being carried out by the members of the Security Council, some of whom are also members of the European Union.
What I know is that, whatever Kosovo's future, it's a European problem. We told the other participants that Europe needs time to address the issue of what we'll perhaps have to do if there's no longer UNSCR 1244, no more UNMIK, the United Nations Mission to Kosovo. We have had several meetings on this. We are 27 countries of Europe working on this issue, which is one of the toughest ones politically and as regards world balance. We think that six months are necessary for new meetings with the Serbs and the Albanians from Kosovo and that there will be a common European attitude to the problem. Let us have a few months. But at the end of these few months, it's the red line, a decision will have to be taken.
Iran / Nuclear issue…
Statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, 13 July 2007)
Do you have any comment concerning the agreement between the IAEA experts and the Iranian authorities?
We noted the reports citing positive developments during Mr. Heinonen’s visit.
We are however waiting for the IAEA to inform the board of governors on what was obtained on the visit. As you know, we are asking for the utmost transparency from Iran, which is an obligation under the board of governors’ and Security Council’s resolutions. We would like to see a real re-establishment of confidence since what we’ve noted is that a number of agreements in the past have not been kept. So once the IAEA members are briefed, we’ll be able to have a definitive position on what was achieved during the visit.
Statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, 10 July 2007)
IAEA Director-General El Baradei said yesterday that his agency had noted a slowing down in the expansion of enrichment activities. Your comment?
We are waiting for gestures from the Iranians and we think we should move fast, but we have to see where matters stand. As you know, discussions are continuing at this time. Let’s verify what has been said: the slower pace remains to be confirmed. Iran must suspend its uranium-enrichment related activities. This is what we’ve been discussing for too long. (…)
Any gesture from Iran going in the direction we wish, i.e. towards suspension of enrichment related activities would be welcome.
Lebanon…
Statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, 13 July 2007)
Do you have any comment on Judge Brammertz’s report? He’s concluded that he now has enough information to present the work to a court.
We have read with great interest the eighth interim report of the Investigation Commission.
We note that the Commission has done an enormous job over the past four months compiling all the findings and all the information that has been assembled since it was first set up. The objective is to convey, when the time comes, all these elements to the future prosecutor of the Special Tribunal established under resolution 1757. We welcome the rigorous work that has been done by the Commission.
With regard to the investigation, we note the progress that has been made, in particular in the context of the analysis of the crime scene and of the motives, essentially political, for the attack on Rafik Hariri. We also note that the Commission has identified several persons liable to have been involved in the preparation and execution of the attack. We also note that the existence of links between the attack on February 14 and some of the 17 other attacks in which the commission is providing technical assistance to the Lebanese authorities is being confirmed .
As you know, its mandate was renewed until June 2008 so the Commission can continue its work with some continuity and stability. We reaffirm that our support to the commission.
Statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, 11 July 2007)
A presidential statement on the progress report on UNSCR 1701 is going to be discussed at the UN. What is your position with regard to the methods of monitoring flows of weapons into Lebanon, specifically at the Syrian-Lebanese border, and the application of article 15 of 1701?
The UN secretary-general’s recent report on the implementation of SCR 1701 noted increasing information about the flow of illegal weapons, especially across the Syrian –Lebanese border. Neighboring states, particularly Syria, have a special responsibility in this matter. It is up to them to take all the necessary measures to prevent arms smuggling on their territory. We support the recommendations made by the independent border evaluation mission which went to Lebanon in June at the request of the UN secretary-general.
Libya…
Statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, 11 July 2007)
What’s your reaction to the confirmation of the death penalty on the Bulgarian nurses by the Libyan Supreme Court?
We regret the Supreme Court decision which confirmed the death sentence on the Bulgarian nurses and the doctor. We understand that this is not the end of the judicial procedure. We are waiting for the decision by the High Council of Justice which is to meet on Monday.
We noted with interest the announcement made by the Qaddafi Foundation that a financial agreement has been reached with the families of the contaminated children.
We are maintaining contact with the various people concerned in order to reach a rapid solution and we hope that this will happen in the next few days.
Our position, like that of the international community, particularly the European Union, is dictated by the two focuses of our solidarity: the contaminated children and their families on one hand, and the nurses and the doctor on the other whose release we hope to see as soon as possible.
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