... Kenya

- Statement made by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner, January 31, 2008
We are very concerned about the violence which is continuing to convulse Kenya, causing many victims and bringing the number of displaced persons to 290,000 in a very disturbing humanitarian context. Barbarous acts are being committed; civilians are being killed in horrifying conditions. Women and children are being violated. Two opposition lawmakers have also been killed.
We fear lest these excesses plunge Kenya into a deadly conflict of an ethnic character.
The origin of the present crisis lies in the immense disappointment of the Kenyan people in the face of an election result marred by irregularities. The solution is political and must be swift. Both parties now face a historic responsibility: choose dialogue or bear responsibility for a political and human catastrophe.
France reaffirms its confidence in Mr. Kofi Annan to pursue his mediation. It also reaffirms its support for the efforts of the African Union and the United Nations Secretary-General to end the violence and find a political solution to the crisis.
In the name of the responsibility to protect, it is urgent to help the people of Kenya. The United Nations Security Council must take up this question and act.

- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 1, 2008
(…) Q: Kenya is appealing for the Security Council to take up the matter. I’d like to know whether France has made any moves to this end. Is there a Security Council meeting scheduled?
We’re in contact with our partners as always when considering a referral to the Security Council. We’re having contacts in particular with the British. The idea is to consider the question in the Security Council quickly and to see to what extent we can call for an end to the violence, encourage the parties to engage in dialogue and support Kofi Annan’s mediation. We’re also waiting for Mr. Annan to report on his mediation.
Q: Are you thinking at this stage of sending blue helmets, an international force or other missions besides Ban Ki-moon’s?
We’ll see with our partners when the Security Council debates the question. We’ll evaluate the analyses and recommendations then. But for now, the aim is to get the attention again of the international community and take a stand in line with the work at the African Union summit which has also discussed the question. As you know, there is close cooperation between the African Union and the UN.

…Iraq

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 1, 2008

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 30, 2008
Q: The US authorities have refused permission for former Cabinet minister Robert Badinter to go to Guantanamo to attend a hearing on Omar Khadr, a young Canadian arrested in 2002. What’s your reaction? Did the Quai d’Orsay intercede?
We regret that the American authorities refused permission for Robert Badinter to go to Guantanamo for the hearings on February 4 and 5 on Omar Khadr. The French authorities will certainly call the attention of the US authorities to the refusal of Mr. Badinter’s request.

…Syria

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 29, 2008
France condemns the arrest of Riad Seif at his home in Damascus on January 28. Mr. Seif is an emblematic figure of international renown in the Syrian opposition, secretary general of the Damascus Declaration and a former legislator.
This new arrest brings to 11 the number of signatories of the Damascus Declaration held by Syrian security services.
France calls on the Syrian government to respect its international commitments, especially freedom of opinion guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Syria in 1969.
France demands the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Seif, whose state of health is cause for great concern, as well as all the other signatories of the Declaration currently detained. More generally, it reiterates its concern at the repeated attacks on human rights and public liberties in Syria.

…Middle East

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 29, 2008
Q: About the Egyptian-Palestinian agreement. Don’t you think it concerns only Egypt and the Palestinians in Gaza? Some people, including Hamas, are saying that Israel no longer has anything to do with respect to Gaza. Do you have a few details about what was said on this matter at the general affairs council?
What was said yesterday is that we’re ready, insofar as there’s an agreement between the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Israel on border control, to consider the resumption of the European observer mission at Rafah. Our position with regard to Hamas, which is shared by all our European partners, is that in order to normalize its relations with the international community Hamas must, in accordance with the Quartet’s three principles, demonstrate through concrete actions its willingness to “cooperate with all international efforts to guarantee the region’s security and stability,” as Mr. Haniyeh has said several times. What we can do with respect to the border will depend on the agreement between the Palestinian Authority, Israel and Egypt. When you quote people saying that Israel no longer has anything to do vis-à-vis Gaza, I would remind you that Israel still occupies this territory and so it is quite normal for us to refer to an eventual agreement between the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Israel.
Q: What are you doing about the de facto authority Hamas holds in Gaza?
I recalled the conditions for there to be dialogue with Hamas. No one went beyond that yesterday at the meeting of the 27 European foreign ministers.
When the Security Council met to consider the events in Gaza and the border issue, they couldn’t agree even on a statement of principle. That means there’s international paralysis on the question. What don’t the Security Council members agree on, especially the permanent members?
Talks in the Security Council are continuing. We will brief you on the outcome once the discussions end. For the rest, what’s positive in the debates yesterday is that there is complete agreement among the 27 EU members. Let’s proceed in stages. We’ll see in a few days what comes out of the Security Council discussions.
Q: What is France’s position concerning the situation in Gaza?
We’ve expressed our deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Gaza. We’ve demanded that everything be done to permit emergency humanitarian aid to get to the people who are extremely affected. We’ve demanded an end to the blockade because it affects civilians who are already having a very hard time. We’ve demanded an end to violence and an end of rocket fire. We hope that our calls and our partners’ will be heeded.
Q: Is there a different evaluation of what’s happening in Gaza?
We’re re-evaluating the situation all the time, with our partners in Europe and the international community. And the result of this re-appraisal is all our daily efforts to improve the situation. What the 27 ministers said yesterday, as I reminded you a minute ago, is directed to this same end.

…Iran

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 28, 2008
Q: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has warned that a new UN resolution against Iran on its nuclear program would have “serious consequences.” Are you taking this warning seriously in the talks among the Six on a new resolution?
This resolution is the product of joint work by the E3 + 3 and strengthens the international community’s approach combining a concrete offer to engage in dialogue with firmness. It is up to Iran to take the measures to respond to the international community’s expectations, particularly the suspension of its sensitive nuclear activities.
Q: Could you tell us a little bit about the meeting last Thursday between the minister and his Iranian counterpart? Was a new resolution at the UN discussed between the two ministers?
The meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the Forum in Davos, shows our wish for dialogue. The two ministers discussed the main international issues.

…France/Iran

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 1, 2008
Iranian Ambassador Ali Ahani was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs today.
At that time the French authorities firmly condemned the remarks about Israel by the Iranian president at Bushehr on January 30 and expressed, as they do whenever necessary, their sharpest reprobation and indignation.
The Iranian ambassador’s attention was drawn once again to the unacceptable character of such hostile comments with regard to another member of the United Nations.
Mr. Ahani was also reminded that the issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli-Lebanese relations could not be used as a pretext for challenging Israel’s fundamental right to exist.
The French authorities lastly emphasized the highly negative impact of such statements on the international community’s perception of Iran whose authorities regularly express their intention of taking a leading role in the region.

…United Arab Emirates/Nuclear Project

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, January 31, 2008
Q: Can you tell us if there is a direct link between the nuclear cooperation agreement recently signed with the United Arab Emirates and the EPR reactors project presented by the consortium AREVA heads up in that country?
The cooperation agreement to develop the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which was signed in Abu Dhabi on January 15 after being submitted to the European Commission in accordance with our obligations under EURATOM, sets out the institutional framework for cooperation on nuclear energy between France and the Emirates.
It allows for technical exchanges and assistance to contribute to the establishment of a regulatory and technical framework for the construction and operation of nuclear reactors on the territory of the United Arab Emirates in accordance with international best practices. The inter-government cooperation agreement paves the way for subsequent industrial and trade negotiations on both the construction of nuclear reactors and operating them. Any decision on this depends on the Emirate authorities.

…Chad

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 1, 2008
Q: What comments do you have about Chad and the rebels’ advance this morning?
As we said yesterday, I recall our attachment to Chad’s stability and unity. We’ve issued the requisite security advisories to the French community. For the rest we hope that the situation will calm down though unfortunately we see that it’s not the case at this time.
We hope that things will get back to normal as quickly as possible.
There was a statement from a EUFOR spokesman saying that the rebel advance on the capital didn’t jeopardize Operation EUFOR.
Q: Does that mean for the countries participating in the force that a change in government wouldn’t bring into question such an operation?
I refer you to what General Nash and General Ganascia said. I also refer you to what Mr. Solana’s spokesperson said a short while ago. She said the operation hadn’t been called into question.
The EUFOR mandate, as I said yesterday, is perfectly clear and has nothing to do with the situation which has just been discussed. It is to provide security in the area, security for civilian refugees and displaced persons, not to interfere in any way in an inter-Chad conflict.
We are still very concerned with respect to the civilian population. As you know, the needs are vast, and that is why EUFOR-Chad is important.
Q: What’s France’s position if there’s a change in government?
We’re not looking at the situation from that assumption. There’s nothing to suggest there will be a change in government—it’s purely speculation.
French forces were beefed up this morning apparently.
Additional units were actually sent in to protect the French community if necessary.
The French community is once again serving as the official reason for the intervention of armed forces.
Q: It’s the official reason, but how strong is the French community estimated to be?
There are 1,266 individuals, most of them in N’djamena.
In the past year it’s probably the third or fourth time the same scenario has been repeated. (…) Don’t you think the problem goes deeper than these occasional interventions by French forces and probably would require a political solution?
First, I don’t share your analysis and your scenario systematically putting forward intervention by French armed forces. It doesn’t correspond to the facts in the situation. The only thing—and you’re right to underscore it—is that, as we can see again, there are major regional tensions leading to very dangerous situations. I refer you to what the president of the African Union Commission, Mr. Konaré, said--he made this analysis very precisely at the African Union summit. The current tension-fraught situation creates dangers, and the international community is being particularly vigilant about the development of the situation.