…Bali Conference on climate change (December 3-15)
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 18, 2007
The 13th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Third Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol were held in Bali, Indonesia, from December 3 to 15, 2007.
France welcomes the adoption of the “Bali Roadmap" which establishes a process for negotiations leading by the end of 2009 to a global agreement on the regime to address climate change for post-2012.
The Bali conference produced progress on action to address deforestation, help for developing countries in their efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change, and transfers of clean technology to these countries.
The Bali conference gave new impetus to the mobilization of the international community which now has two years to achieve an ambitious agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stabilize global warming. As evident from the conclusions of the Grenelle Environment seminar in October, France remains totally committed to this goal.
…Donors’conference
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 18, 2007
The International Donors Conference for the Palestinian State has provided a strong signal of political and financial support to the government of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and their vision of a future Palestinian state. This support will be essential to underpin the political process launched in Annapolis last November.
The Paris Conference has made evident the high degree of confidence of the international community in President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad’s reform and development program. As the minister said, the conference was a success, and most of all a success for the Palestinian state.
Delegations from 87 countries and international organizations pledged a total of US $7.4 billion to support institution-building and economic recovery for the next three years. Of this amount, US $3.4 billion has been pledged for 2008. This amount will also include humanitarian assistance, which is essential and helps to relieve the daily lives of the Palestinian population, especially in Gaza.
The Chair and co-Chairs want to thank all participants for their pledges and call upon all those states and international organizations in a position to do so to assist in the development of the Palestinian economy, to maximize the resources available to the Palestinian Authority and to contribute to the Palestinian institution-building program in preparation for statehood.
Within this framework the Chair and co-Chairs strongly urge a rapid disbursement of pledges, based on equitable burden-sharing among all donors. They encourage donors to provide budget support through the Single Treasury Account.
The Palestinian Authority’s program, “Building a Palestinian State,” is to be commended. It presents an ambitious but coherent, feasible macro-economic and fiscal agenda that is supported by the IMF and the World Bank. It clearly sets out the steps that the Palestinian Authority, together with the international community and Israel, must take in order to achieve its reform and development targets over the next 36 months. We are confident that the Palestinian Authority will continue to build on this plan to ensure the continuity of the reform process, including in the security sector.
The Chair and co-Chairs agree that no economic recovery would be possible without a substantial improvement in the conditions on the ground. They stress the need for shared responsibility to be exercised by the Palestinians and Israelis to ensure that measures on the ground, especially on movement and access, are conducive to economic recovery and the implementation of the plan. Immediate steps, such as the implementation of quick impact projects and the convening of private-sector stakeholders, must be supported.
The Chair and co-Chairs recall that the Paris Conference is an important step in a broader process which aims at a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. They stress their commitment to follow up the process at the highest level. They intend to meet on January 22. The input to this work will take place in coordination with all the parties involved, and within the established structures.
So that’s our assessment of the conference. I would simply like to insist on the importance of follow-up. It is essential now to make sure that the amounts pledged are delivered and the Palestinian program successfully implemented.
Q: The communiqué refers to the sum of $7.4 billion. Could you tell us the percentage of humanitarian aid in that amount and give us a breakdown of the amount by sector and by country?
The international community has indeed pledged $7.4 billion for the next three years, of which $3.4 billion is to be given in 2008. This amount includes humanitarian aid which is essential for providing some relief in the daily lives of the Palestinians.
With regard to geographic breakdown, Europe is providing 53%, North America 11%, the Arab countries 20% and the other countries 5%. International organizations are to provide 11%. In addition, aside from the political follow-up, there will also be follow-up by the international financial institutions, the IMF and World Bank, and a follow-up in the context of existing mechanisms, specifically the ad hoc liaison committee, which is under the Norwegians’ responsibility. That’s why the Norwegian minister was one of the co-chairs. And we will continue to work closely with Tony Blair, the Quartet’s special envoy.
…Lebanon
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 21, 2007
Q: I’d like to have your comment on the statements by the American president yesterday. He said that absent a president with broad support, a consensus president, he would urge the majority to elect a president by simple majority. President Sarkozy told us the other day, after his meeting with the American secretary of state, that you and the Americans were still on the same wavelength. Is that still the case? Is that your approach?
I can confirm that this is indeed our approach and I would like to remind you, in response to your question, of the statement made in Paris on December 17 in the evening after the donors’ conference. It was a report of a meeting held between representatives of Egypt, France, Italy, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, UK, US, the president of the EU Council, the Commission and Javier Solana, the Secretary-General/High Representative, under the auspices of UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon. The statement, still current, referred to the agreement of all in reaffirming and reiterating “our call for unconditional Lebanese presidential elections without any further delay.” We also said in the statement that we “support the legitimate, democratically elected Lebanese government and the Lebanese armed forces in their efforts to maintain the sovereignty and stability of Lebanon,” and we “reiterate our call for the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon.” That is our position. We call for presidential elections to be held in Lebanon as soon as possible.
That wasn’t my question. The question was for comment on President Bush’s remarks yesterday.
But it’s my answer. My comment is that it changes nothing with regard to the statement which remains valid today and clearly states the position that we all share.
Q: But when President Bush calls for the parliamentary majority to elect a president by simple majority, do you agree with him?
I refer you to the declaration of December 17. For the rest it is up to the Lebanese to adopt the rules that govern how their elections are held, in accordance with Lebanon’s constitution. What we all want is to see the presidential election held as quickly as possible so that a Lebanese president with broad support is elected. It’s not our place to take a position on the rules of procedure. The Lebanese apply their rules in accordance with the Lebanese constitution. It’s their responsibility.
Q: There probably won’t be an election, there’ll be an escalation. There’s been talk of sanctions and warnings. Is French diplomacy moving into a higher gear with respect to those inside and outside Lebanon who are blocking the electoral process according to France and the United States?
I don’t think one should talk of escalation. Our position is unchanged. We were in contact with the Syrians to tell them that we were counting on them so that the elections in Lebanon take place satisfactorily in accordance with the Lebanese constitution. That is still our position, and we hope that the Syrians are going to heed us. We hope that any eventual foreign interference is exercised in a positive sense. We are committed to the stability of this region, and Lebanon’s stability is essential for the region’s stability. That is why it is very important that the presidential election should take place in satisfactory conditions, and we’re asking everyone not to put obstacles in the way.
Q: One of the very acute problems in Lebanon now is the dispute about the agreement brokered by Mr. Kouchner in the presence of Mr. Berri and Mr. Hariri. With regard to the composition of the future government after the new election, can you confirm that at that meeting there was agreement on the proportions of majority and opposition in the new government?
There were talks. Bernard Kouchner had contacts with everyone, as you know, Saad Hariri, Nabih Berri, General Aoun and others, and in the wake of all these contacts, in the framework of these contacts, we’re calling for an agreement on the election of a president with broad support. Mr. Kouchner did everything he could to help reach this agreement, and we hope that all these endeavors, all these efforts, will end up producing results. But at the same time, as I have said all along, agreement depends on the Lebanese. It is not for us to dictate the rules.
Q: Until today you were hoping for an agreement by a large majority, 51% of more?
I’ve not mentioned figures. We’re hoping that an agreement will be reached leading to the election of a Lebanese president. You will not have any figure from me. As I’ve said, it is up to the Lebanese to determine the modalities of the agreement and adopt the rules.
Q: There’s been a lot of negotiations and consultations with Syria and Syrian leaders. You asked the Syrians to facilitate the election of a Lebanese president and to reach an agreement. Did France and Europe offer the Syrians anything for facilitating the election?
(…) One shouldn’t present it as a “deal” or exchange. In our contacts with Syria, our objective--and it’s a shared objective, it’s in Syria’s interest and the interest of the entire region--is for there to be a stable situation in Lebanon, and stability there requires the presidential election to take place satisfactorily.
Q: President Sarkozy mentioned the possibility of clashes among Lebanese. Do you have any information that would lead you to believe that?
No. What we all want, as we’ve said and repeated this morning, is to see an agreement emerge among the Lebanese.
…Turquey/Iraq
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 19, 2007
Q: Is there a French reaction to the Turkish army’s incursion into Iraqi Kurdistan?
The presidency of the Council of the European Union expressed its concern at the military reactions recently undertaken by Turkey on Iraqi territory and called on it to exercise restraint.
We understand the legitimate concern of the Turkish authorities to protect their citizens.We are also committed to Iraq’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. We consider it paramount that the dialogue begun between the Turkish and Iraqi authorities should be continued.
Lastly, in general, France stands with Turkey in the fight against the PKK, an organization on the European list of terrorist groups and entities.
…Pakistan
- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 21, 2007
France condemns in the strongest terms the deadly attack that took place today in a mosque in northwestern Pakistan which caused the deaths of over 50 people.
France expresses its solidarity with Pakistan in these tragic circumstances.
…Kosovo
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, December 21, 2007
Q: In Kosovo the situation now is even more complicated. (…) It’s hard to see how the EU wants to act. Moreover, the next EU president is a Slovene, and Slovenia is the only country from the former Yugoslavia which is already in the EU. In practical terms what can we expect…
You’re right to remind us that the Slovene presidency is going to be actively involved in this question. It has already announced that it considers Kosovo a very important question and that it wants to see progress made You mentioned all these elements so I won’t go over them again.
The European Council has said that the EU stands ready to play its full part in the region. It is in fact a European problem as Bernard Kouchner has said many times. European intervention should include, we hope very quickly, the deployment of an ESDP operation which should contribute to stability in the region.
Q: Will this force be in addition to KFOR?
There are two things. As can be seen from the debates that were held in the UN Security Council yesterday, we will continue to act in both the EU framework and the NATO framework with respect to KFOR. The EU’s action will be in line with what UNMIK was doing in the area of police and justice.
…Colombia
Statement issued by the minister last night about the announcement of the release of Clara Rojas, her son Emmanuel and Consuelo de Perdomo, December 18, 2007
We are delighted at the announcement of the release of Clara Roja, Ingrid Betancourt’s campaign manager, her son Emmanuel and Madame Consuelo de Perdomo. Naturally we are waiting impatiently for confirmation of this report.
This gesture would be a comfort for their families. The others are still in pain. All offers of help must concentrate on pursuing the efforts being made which are producing the first tangible results in several years.
Following President Sarkozy’s appeal to Manuel Marulanda, we hope that this first step will be quickly followed by the release of Ingrid Betancourt and any other hostage whose health would warrant an immediate humanitarian gesture.
Beyond that, France is determined to work tirelessly with its partners for the release of all the hostages.
Q: The minister, Mr. Kouchner, recently mentioned the possibility of going to Colombia “soon.” What’s happening about that plan?
The minister actually said he was ready to go to Colombia shortly. No specific date however has been set for the trip.
|
