…Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian State
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 14, 2007
Q: Can you tell us why the title has been changed from Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian Authority to Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian State?
It is at Bernard Kouchner’s initiative that the conference is being called that. It is to clearly underscore our objective, which is also that of all the participants in the conference: to contribute to the establishment of Palestinian state. (…) It makes it clear that the conference is aiming to provide financial, and also political, support to the Palestinian state.
Q: Does this mean that starting December 17 France is going to use the appellation “Palestinian State” instead of Palestinian Authority or Palestinian Territories?
Let’s wait for the results of the conference. As you’ve clearly understood, we’re talking here about a goal.
Q: Can you confirm there’s to be a dinner Sunday evening on the sidelines of the conference and tell us who will be there?
Yes, and I can give you details. The day before the conference, there’s an informal dinner at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized and presided by the minister, Bernard Kouchner. Those invited to the dinner are the Palestinians—the president and prime minister; Tzipi Livni; the co-chairs—as you know, in addition to the French there are three co-chairs, Tony Blair, representing the Quartet; the Norwegian minister and Benita Ferrero-Waldner for the European Commission. Also invited are the members of the Quartet: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; for the US, Condoleezza Rice but she’s due to arrive later in the evening; Mr. Lavrov for Russia; Luis Amado for the presidency of the EU Council; and the secretary-general, the high representative for the CFSP, Mr. Solana, whose presence still has to be confirmed.
Q: Will there be a 5 + 1 meeting on Iran on the sidelines of the conference?
So far as I know, no meeting is scheduled. Now for details about the day. At 9:30 a.m. the conference is opened by the president then come speeches by participants. A luncheon will be hosted by the foreign minister. The afternoon proceedings should conclude round about 6 or 6:15 p.m. with a press conference given by the minister and co-chairs, to which you’re all invited.
Q: I would like to have details about the participants. I wanted to know in particular if you’ve had a response from Syria?
In the case of Syria, it’s not final. Syria will be represented, but I can’t tell you who will represent it. At the present time, I’m told 67 states have responded. In the case of the international institutions that will be there, there’s the UN secretary-general, the European Union, the international financial institutions –IMF, EIB, Islamic Development Bank and also the agencies on the list you’ve been given.
Q: The plan that was indicated yesterday by Mr. Dusquenes, namely Mr. Fayyad’s plan, would be accepted for three years. In the event there were elections in Palestine and Mr. Fayyad were not prime minister, would the plan still stand? Second, at yesterday’s briefing, it was announced that there’ll be a list of 30,000 loyalist officials, people who would receive salaries without working, especially in the Palestinian security services .
The figure could even be a lot higher, and the annoyance in Ramallah is growing. Do you have any information about this?
I would remind you that you’re talking about an “off-the-record” briefing yesterday. We’re not talking figures for now. We’re waiting for the results of the conference. The basis on which we’re working is the three-year program prepared by the Palestinian Authority. Decisions will be taken at the donors’ conference based on this program.
Q: And assuming Mr. Fayyad were no longer prime minister?
I’m not looking at things for the moment from a hypothetical perspective. We’re working on the basis of the Palestinian Authority’s program. The program isn’t linked to one man but to the legitimate Palestinian authority.
Q: Can you tell us if all the Gulf states have sent positive responses?
Yes.
Q: Other than Syria are there still countries that haven’t yet confirmed they’re attending?
No, even though we don’t always know the exact level of representation. We’ll let you have the exact list of participants as soon as possible.
Q: Was Iran invited to the conference on Monday?
Iran was not invited. May I remind you that we invited the same participants as were at Annapolis, and Iran wasn’t among them.
Q: Wasn’t it an opportunity to invite it?
It wasn’t the decision taken.
Q: Some delegations are sending two ministers. Is it correct to say the foreign minister and finance minister?
In the chart I have here, I see rather foreign and development ministers, but there are also finance ministers. The letters of invitation were sent by the foreign minister, and each country is at liberty to chose who will represent it. In most cases they are ministers for foreign affairs or development.
Q: Is France going to unveil a roadmap or something, a document on which ministers can focus on or is everyone coming with his own idea?
The purpose of the donors’ conference is to hear what contributions everyone can make. It is likely there will be a concluding text which will reaffirm the spirit of the conference.
Q: Will the participants have access to or a copy of the Palestinian reform plan?
Of course, since it’s the basis for the proceedings.
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 12, 2007
Q: Do you have any reaction to the Israeli incursions in the occupied territories where at least six Palestinians have been killed and several people injured on both sides? What do you think of the timing of this action just before the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks?
In the wake of the Annapolis meeting and with just days to the Paris conference, France condemns all acts of violence and calls on all the parties to exercise the utmost restraint. Only the opening of a real political perspective of two states will bring peace and security.
…Middle East/Lebanon
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 11, 2007
Q: Can you explain why France has requested a presidential statement on Lebanon in the Security Council in New York?
The purpose is to underline the fact that the entire international community wants the Lebanese to be able to elect a president with broad support. It is important to show that the international community is united behind this objective and behind all the Lebanese.
Q: There’s a specific point in the statement about support for Prime Minister Siniora. Well, everyone knows that in the context of resolving the deadlock, Mr. Siniora is going to step down. Is it to support Mr. Siniora during a period that seems long to you before the elections?
So far as I know, the talks aren’t over. They’re still going on in New York.
- Statement by the minister of foreign and European affairs, December 12, 2007
France condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack which claimed the life this morning of a high-ranking member of the Lebanese army, François al-Hajj, and that of several Lebanese citizens. It offers its condolences to the victims’ families and its solidarity with the army, government and people of Lebanon at this difficult time. France wishes to see full light shed on this act of terrorism.
This cowardly attack, committed against one of the principal leaders of the Lebanese military establishment, the guarantor of the country’s security, which has the respect of all Lebanese, is part of an obvious wish to destabilize [Lebanon] and demands a unanimous reaction of revulsion.
The only response to this wish to destabilize must be for all Lebanese political leaders to show responsibility by proceeding without delay to the election of the new president and to keep the country functioning so as to ensure its security, freedom and sovereignty.
France, which has been doing everything possible for several months to stop the drifting, calls on the international community to exercise the greatest possible influence to this end. It remains more than ever ready to help and stands shoulder to shoulder with the Lebanese people to assist it in overcoming this crisis.”
Q: What impact will the attack have on the search for a new president?
As the minister says in his statement, it makes it more necessary than ever to designate a new Lebanese president without delay. Everyone needs to redouble efforts to make this happen.
Q: Do you think the international commission of inquiry for Lebanon should have the task of investigating General François al-Hajj’s assassination?
It will be up to the UN Security Council to decide, if the Lebanese government asks it, to authorize the international commission of inquiry to provide technical assistance to the Lebanese authorities in the attack as it has done in the past. For our part we’re in favor of it.
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 14, 2007
Q: Could the political deadlock and the difficulty in getting lawmakers together for an election in Lebanon prompt you to send Mr Cousseran to Beirut again?
We’re having ongoing contacts with all the parties concerned through our ambassador to Lebanon. For the rest, I refer you to what the minister said. The current situation in Lebanon makes it more urgent than ever to elect a president of Lebanon, and we hope that the December 17 deadline will be taken up constructively so as to permit the election of a president with broad support.
…Kosovo
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 11, 2007
The Contact Group has presented its report to the UN secretary-general on the work by the troika with Serb and Kosovar leaders since the beginning of August.
We regret that Belgrade and Pristina did not succeed in reaching an agreement on the future status of Kosovo. The troika explored all the possibilities leading to a negotiated solution without being able to bring the positions closer. We share the opinion of European negotiator Wolfgang Ischinger that further negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina would have no chance of succeeding.
The status quo has gone on far too long. It is time to implement a status for Kosovo which will respond to the aspirations of its people and which will offer the Serb community of Kosovo every guarantee. We hope that the international community and European Union commit themselves through their presence in Kosovo to seeing that such a status is implemented. The European Union must in particular prepare to launch the European security, defense, police and justice mission recommended by the UN special envoy.
We’re going to confer now with all the parties concerned about the timetable for the next steps.
Q: You say in your statement that it is time to implement a status for Kosovo. What status are you referring to since the talks didn’t produce agreement on a status?
It is precisely for that reason that an agreement has to be reached. We’re continuing, on the basis of the UN special envoy’s report, to work towards a solution which, we hope, will lead to a status that will have the agreement of all the parties. But what the statement says, and as we’ve noted, is that this can’t be done by pursuing negotiations among the parties. We had allowed a few additional months and now we’re preparing the discussions that will take place in the Security Council on December 19; our objective is still to arrive at a status for Kosovo that will end the status quo. And I repeat, the basis on which we’ll be continuing to work is the UN special envoy’s report.
Q: If I’ve understood correctly, you’re looking for a solution that will be acceptable for all the parties. When you say “the parties,” whom do you mean?
We hope that this will all be resolved calmly, with the agreement of all. You’re familiar with the conditions in which we’ve tried to negotiate by bringing the parties closer. The troika had to accept the fact that these negotiations hadn’t succeeded. We noted and regretted the failure of the negotiations. Now we’re going to see--this is the next step--in the UN Security Council what conclusions we can draw but we all realize quite clearly that Kosovo has to have a status that allows all the communities to live together in peace. That is what we mean when we say it is important to reach a status which, we hope, will have broad agreement.
Q: The British foreign secretary has already announced his position if the Kosovo Albanians unilaterally proclaim independence. What will France’s position be?
We are continuing to confer with our European partners. Let the talks continue until the meetings I’ve just mentioned.
Q: Is there unanimity in the EU on this question?
If we’re continuing to confer, it means there is no unanimity at this time.
…Attacks in Algeria
Statement by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner, December 11, 2007
I condemn in the strongest terms the deadly attacks in Algiers this morning. The Algerian people, who aspire to civil peace and security, are once again the victims of indiscriminate violence.
France offers its condolences to the victims’ families and friends and to the Algerian authorities.
It assures Algeria of its solidarity at this painful time.
…Iraq
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 12, 2007
Q: There were three major attacks in Iraq today leaving at least 60 people dead. Do you share the assessment of certain parties, in Iraq and outside the country, that the security situation is improving?
Like you we see the statistics tending to show an overall drop in the number of victims. But these attacks, which we condemn, reveal the extent to which the security situation remains disturbing in Iraq.
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