…September 11, 2007
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson (September 11, 2007)
Q : Today is September 11. Do you have anything to say at this time?
Our thoughts today are turned first to the victims’ families and loved ones to whom we renew our condolences.
France and the international community must remain mobilized to continue to fight terrorism as we did with the adoption of UNSCR 1373 and the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.
Beyond this resolute and relentless struggle against terrorism, it is essential also to tackle the causes which fuel it.
Q: Do you have details about the meeting between Mr. Dally, the US official at the State Department handling the fight against terrorism, and French officials?
I’ve no details about the visit and any contacts which may be taking place at the Quai d’Orsay. If you’re referring to contacts between officials, we don’t customarily report on them.
With that said, we cooperate and consult with our American partners all the time on matters of terrorism.
Q : Precisely, I happen to have had a meeting with that gentleman. He praised cooperation between France and the US on this issue. Is this feeling shared by France?
As you know, right after September 11, France showed its solidarity with the American people and the American government in a concrete way.
The adoption of a presidential statement in the Security Council, where France was presiding at the time, then the adoption of a Security Council resolution, both at France’s initiative, are proof. There are consultations in the bilateral context. There is permanent cooperation with our American allies on these matters.
Q: It’s been six years since the attacks. You referred to resolution 1373, conventions and cooperation among all states on counter-terrorism. There have been two wars in the meantime, Now, what is the result? Do you think that terrorism has waned?
I mentioned two texts. I could have mentioned others. The international community is mobilized to fight terrorism and strengthen the mechanisms for fighting it.
It is essential to keep up the mobilization at a high level. That is the sense of what I was saying as a preamble.
For the rest, with regard to the terrorist threat, our concern is for vigilance, and that is the context in which measures have been taken by the French authorities.
Q: In spite of the demands to combat terrorism at the international level, there’s criticism about the methods used by the West to combat this scourge. (…) What is France’ position with regard to tactics like forced extradition, etc., people being arrested in illegal circumstances in the streets of European cities (…)?
As you know, the fight against terrorism, which must be waged without concessions, must be compatible with human rights and fundamental freedoms.
It is around these values, which the democracies share, that the fight against terrorisms must be waged.
Q: If I understood correctly, you said that international mobilization in the face of terrorism was satisfactory. But when you talk of the reasons that breed terrorism, do you think that the efforts being made at this level are satisfactory also?
I said that the international community had to remain mobilized.
As for the causes, which are being made use of, they have to be addressed. We know that there a number of regional crises, a number of human tragedies and certain factors which fuel terrorism, and the international community must also address the resolution of these problems.
Q: You refer to the international community wanting to address terrorism. At one point, French diplomats were fairly active in seeking solutions in the Middle East. We get the impression that this mobilization, at one time, has slowed.
I cannot agree with that statement given that Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner is actually in the Middle East at this very moment where he began a tour yesterday, which will continue through Thursday and which aims to show our encouragement for the resumption and continuation of the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue which is taking shape and intensifying as a result of the contacts that the Israeli prime minister and the president of the Palestinian Authority have had.
The minister welcomed this dialogue yesterday evening after his meeting with Mahmoud Abbas and expressed satisfaction, a positive assessment of the results it is beginning to produce.
As far as we are concerned, and this is the purpose of the minister’s visit, we’re in a phase of listening, of dialogue and availability, so as to help, along with our partners in the international community, to move towards the solution of this problem.
…Iraq
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson (September 11, 2007)
Q: Can you make any comment in the wake of General Petraeus’ report?
As you know, we consider the solution in Iraq has to be political as the minister said when he visited Baghdad last month. We’ve always thought there was no military solution and that the prospect of withdrawal was essential. We’ve also said that the withdrawal should be done gradually and be coordinated, and have the consent of the Iraqi authorities.
The multinational force which is in Iraq saw its mandate renewed in SCR 1723. France of course supports decisions taken by the Security Council which recalls in this resolution that the purpose is the completion of the mandate of the international force and the end of its presence in Iraq.
Q: (…) I read in the report that Mr. Védrine presented to the president that France might propose greater involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Does that reflect the point of view of the Quai d’Orsay?
Our country is engaged in Afghanistan since it is part of ISAF. The modalities for increasing our presence have been announced with respect to training Afghan armed forces. The defense minister was in Kabul just a few days ago and talked about this with the Afghan authorities.
With regard to Iraq, our position is clear. The solution can only be political in this country.
…United States.France
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson (September 14, 2007)
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner will be in Washington for an official visit on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, September 19, 20 and 21. This is his first visit to Washington since taking office.
The trip will underline the exceptional relationship between France and the United States based on the shared common values of freedom and democracy, in the context of a renewed transatlantic partnership.
The minister of Foreign and European affairs will have in-depth talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, before the opening of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York where the minister will accompany President Sarkozy.
Mr. Kouchner and Ms Rice will discuss the main international issues. In the wake of his trip to the Middle East, Israel, the Occupied Territories, Egypt and Lebanon, the minister will give his analyses of the regional situation and peace process, particularly with a view to the international conference which is to be held in November at the initiative of the United States. The Iranian nuclear question will also be a core issue in their talks. They will also be discussing Iraq, Lebanon ahead of the important election, which you know about, and the situation in Darfur and Kosovo.
The minister will also have meetings with the leaders of Congress.
The minister will give a lecture at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the United States, France and Europe in the face of the major international challenges.
As is customary, the minister will meet with the French community.
About the international or regional conference for peace, the minister said in Beirut yesterday that Syria would be welcome if it cooperates in the presidential election. Is that France’s official position? Syria doesn’t go to Washington if it doesn’t help in the election?
Q: As you know, this is a meeting being planned at the initiative of the United States, and we don’t know what the format will be, or the detailed agenda for that matter.
The minister spoke largely and several times during his four-day trip to the Middle East, on this issue and on others. Obviously, I’m not going to comment on his remarks.
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson (September 17, 2007)
Q: Mr. Kouchner’s comments about Iran on LCI yesterday appear to be in contradiction with the Quai d’Orsay’s statements last week, especially regarding the UN, EU and taking new sanctions against Iran. A clarification would be welcome on this shift. Has there been new information in the last few day pushing the minister to raise the rhetorical pitch with Iran and refer to a possible war with that country? If so, what information?
In his address to the ambassadors on August 27, President Sarkozy emphasized what had to be done to avoid being confronted with the alternative: "The Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran," an alternative he characterized as “catastrophic.”
That’s what the minister reiterated last night when he explained that the only way to avoid this alternative was to persuade the Iranians to comply with their international obligations as set out by the IAEA governing board and Security Council.
The minister recalled that in order to convince the Iranians of the need for this step, the European approach had consisted since 2003 of offering them the prospect of very ambitious cooperation in exchange for the suspension of their illegal activities. The Europeans were joined by the United States, Russia and China. When the offer was rejected, the Six decided to establish sanctions while maintaining their offer. The aim is to maintain dialogue at all cost.
In spite of a few recent overtures with respect to the IAEA, Iran persists in not honoring its international obligations; it is not suspending enrichment-related activities; it is not implementing the IAEA additional protocol. So we have no other choice, in accordance with resolution 1747, than to propose a new resolution on sanctions in the Security Council. This will be one of the issues that the minister will address in New York next week when he meets his colleagues from the E3+3.
Parallel to these negotiations in New York, France considers the European Union should study the measures to be taken with regard to Iran so that it honors its international obligations. This question will be taken up by France with all its European Union partners.
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