…United States/Tornadoes

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 7, 2008
France was shocked to learn of the heavy toll in the tornadoes that struck the American states of Indiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee yesterday and the day before, causing the deaths of at least 55 people and injuring many others.
France extends its condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones and to the American authorities and people. It assures them of its profound sympathy in these painful circumstances.

…European Space Agency

 Communiqué from the minister of foreign and European affairs and the minister of state in charge of European affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, February 8, 2008
The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, and the Minister of State in charge of European Affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, hail the launch, on Thursday, February 7, of the space shuttle Atlantis, which is carrying seven astronauts including one French and one German, whose mission is to put into orbit the European Space Agency’s scientific space lab, Columbus. This flight marks a key step in the construction of a Europe in Space.
The Colombus laboratory, on the cutting edge of European research, will be docked to the International Space Station. The astronauts will be able to conduct experiments there in many areas (life sciences, human physiology and biology, fluid physics, material sciences, technology and education). The laboratory will also help carry out experiments revolving around space sciences, Earth observation, and cutting-edge materials and technologies.

…Serbia

 Statement made by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner, February 4, 2008
I extend my warmest congratulations to President Boris Tadic on his re-election. I pay tribute to the democratic conduct of this presidential election and the high turnout of Serbian citizens. I am delighted by the desire thus expressed to see Serbia move forward towards its European future.
France will act within the European Union to enable Serbia to make headway on this path, particularly by signing on February 7 the interim agreement concluded last Monday in Brussels. This agreement will open close cooperation with the European Union in the political, economic and social spheres.
We are expecting from the re-elected president and the Serbian government concrete measures to anchor Serbia in the European Union, starting with full cooperation with the [International] Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
France is ready to help Serbia carry through the reforms necessary for its European future. We hope it will soon be able to complete the stages necessary for its accession, including those which will enable it swiftly to be granted candidate status.

…Serbia/European Union

 Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 7, 2008
We regret Serbia’s postponement of the signing of the interim political agreement which was to have taken place in Brussels today.
We hope that the choice of Serb voters last Sunday for a European future will not be compromised.
The European Union’s invitation to Serbia expressed at the last general affairs/external relations council still stands and we remain ready to sign the interim agreement as soon as possible.

…Israel/Attack

 Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 4, 2008
France condemns in the strongest terms today’s attack in Dimona, southern Israel. It offers its condolences to the victims’ families and its sympathy to the Israeli people.
In spite of the violence, France calls for the current discussions to continue in order to move forward quickly in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiation process, the only road to peace.

…Mideast

 Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 8, 2008
Q: Israel indicates that it is going to once again decrease the supply of electricity to Gaza. Many human rights organizations, including the FIDH, have called this a collective punishment against the civilian population of Gaza in revenge for the acts of a few extremists responsible for the suicide attack in Dimona. What is your assessment? Do you think it’s a collective punishment?
We are very concerned by the situation in Gaza, as we say on a daily basis. We would like to see an end to the blockade that’s impacting a population that is already particularly affected. I said yesterday that we would like the situation of the people of Gaza to be improved, for gestures to be made to that end and to facilitate the movement of goods and services without jeopardizing Israel’s security. The rocket fire must also stop. Once again, we call on all the parties to show restraint. We call for a halt to the violence and demand that everything be done to improve the situation of the people of Gaza and those throughout the Palestinian Territories.
Q: In Ramallah, it seems that the ecumenical plan approved at the Paris Conference was rejected by a majority of the Palestinians, along with certain measures taken by the Palestinian Government. Do you think the minister will discuss that with Mr. Fayyad?
I have no particular information about that. We fully support the legitimate Palestinian Authority represented by Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad. There is no question of challenging the plan presented by the Palestinian Authority that was particularly useful for the work of the Donors Conference, and on the basis of which we were able to collect $7.7 billion. We hope that by implementing a number of projects, we will soon see progress in the situation of the people on the ground.
Q: In your statement on the Mideast, you used the terms “painful compromise,” an expression used by the Israelis since Ariel Sharon. What does “painful compromise” mean for France?
I refer you to what I said yesterday. Painful compromises are efforts everyone must make in a peace process. Yesterday I talked about efforts and sacrifices. That’s the context in which you should understand “painful compromises.” We all know that in negotiations of this kind, to reach a final settlement you must first make compromises. We all hope that at the end of these negotiations, with everyone’s efforts and with more or less painful compromises on the part of all the parties, we will reach a final settlement that will translate into two viable, independent, democratic states that can co-exist in full security: The Palestinian State and the State of Israel.

…Iran

 - Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 4, 2008
Q: The French ambassador to Teheran was summoned by the Iranian authorities. What’s your reaction?
Our ambassador was in fact summoned by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two days after the Iranian ambassador was summoned to the Quai d’Orsay.
Our ambassador reaffirmed the French authorities’ condemnation of the comments made by the Iranian president at Bushehr on January 30. He emphasized the unacceptable nature of these comments with respect to another member state of the United Nations, recalled that the issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli-Lebanese relations could not serve as a pretext for challenging Israel’s right to exist, and stressed the highly negative impact of these comments on the international community’s perception of Iran.
Q: The Iranian Foreign Ministry said, “So far our policy towards France and its hostile positions has remained moderate, but if the tendency continues we will revise our positions also.” Are you worried relations between Paris and Teheran will deteriorate?
We are committed to maintaining dialogue with Iran as shown by the meeting between the foreign and European affairs minister and his Iranian counterpart in Davos, given the importance of the matters we have to discuss together.
Accordingly, on the nuclear program and in the context of our strategy of combining dialogue and firmness, France has made every effort to get Iran to accept the proposal for cooperation that was made by the E3 + 3 so negotiations can start.

- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 7, 2008
Q: Russia’s deputy foreign minister yesterday voiced concern about an Iranian rocket test last weekend. Do you share his view that the development of new ballistic capabilities by Tehran arouses suspicions about the goal of their nuclear program?
UN Security Council resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747 have shown the international community’s concern in the face of the development of the Iranian ballistic missile program which can be a source of delivery of weapons of mass destruction.
This new test, presented by the Iranian authorities as the illustration of a space program, though the missile in question does not have extra-atmospheric capabilities, is a further source of concern.

- Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 8, 2008
Q: Two days after Iran’s rocket launch, supposedly as part of its “space program,” you expressed a certain concern about the development of that country’s ballistic program. What does this mean in terms of the third sanctions resolution against Iran?
Indeed, I expressed our concern over the development of a ballistic missile program in Iran, which could be a source for vectors of weapons of mass destruction. I have nothing to add to what I said yesterday. As for the minister’s meeting with the director general of the IAEA, discussions will continue on the nuclear program. Mr. ElBaradei’s meeting with the minister comes in the wake of his discussions with the Iranians, and in the context of his mission. As you know, we await a report from Mr. ElBaradei at the end of the month.

…Iran/Death Penalty

 Communiqué from the minister of state in charge of foreign affairs and human rights, February 8, 2008
I was deeply troubled to learn that the Iranian Supreme court has upheld the sentence of death by stoning of two women and one man. They are two sisters, Zoreh and Azar Kabiri, and one man, Abdallah Farivar Moqaddam, who are all three threatened with imminent execution.
I call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to stay these executions, which offend universal conscience and arouse the indignation of the French authorities.
I invite the Iranian authorities to respect the moratorium on stoning and cruel punishments that it itself undertook to implement in 2002, in the framework of the dialogue on human rights between Iran and the European Union.
True to its commitment, France calls on the Iranian authorities to study ways to abolish the death penalty, if need by establishing an initial moratorium on condemnations and executions.

…France/North Korea

 Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 4, 2008
Q: North Korean news agency KCNA reports that a delegation from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in Pyongyang and Kaesong from January 29 to February 3. Do you confirm this information? If so, can you tell us more about the purpose of the trip, and the level of the delegation? What was the outcome of the talks? Who were the North Koreans they talked to?
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs were in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from January 29 to February 2.
This was a fact-finding mission on the situation in North Korea and included meetings with officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Education and Culture at the level of vice-ministers or directors.

…Chad/Libya

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 7, 2008
Q: What do you think of Libya’s attitude in the recent crisis in Chad? Do you think it supported the government or on the contrary the rebels?
As the minister recalled yesterday, Libya supported the adoption of a statement in the UN Security Council condemning the attacks carried out by armed groups against the Chadian government. We also reaffirm our support for the mediation of the Libyan and Congolese presidents mandated the African Union.
Lastly, as you’ll have seen, President Deby said yesterday that relations between his country and Libya were excellent.

…Chad

 Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 8, 2008
(…) Q: Is there any news of the Chadian dissidents who disappeared a week ago? There are three of them. We still don’t know what’s happened to them. Do you know if they’re dead or alive?
We’ve been in close contact with the Chadian authorities and with the ICRC on this subject. Following those contacts, the International Red Cross was able to gain access to the prison. We hope this access will be extended to other places where those persons might be held. But we don’t have any further information for the time being. I would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate our attachment to human rights, as we do and will continue to do in all circumstances.
(…) Q: Some dissidents have disappeared and France supported the regime of Idriss Déby. You say you continue to stress your attachment to human rights. Are there dissidents who were imprisoned during this military action that France acted to help in the framework of the technical agreement with Idriss Déby’s regime?
I can’t give you any more details on imprisonments. I will remind you that what France supports is the legality and respect of international agreements and human rights. Our position is clear. The minister has addressed the subject. The minister of state in charge of foreign affairs and human rights also reaffirmed her position this morning. We will see to it that international law is respected, as we have already done up to now. This position was expressed by the African Union and by the UN Security Council. It’s the international community that supports a president who was elected twice and a legal government that is currently governing in Chad.
Q: The minister called on Chad’s government several times to demonstrate political openness to achieve a more long-term resolution of the problem of instability in the country. I would like to know if the arrests of dissidents are compatible with those calls for greater openness and political consultation.
We are attached to the respect of democratic principles and international law, and at no time have we deviated from this line. Likewise, we hope a political solution to this crisis will be found.
Q: Do you think President Déby heard you?
We conveyed our messages. I think you need to give this a little time. President Déby is rather busy, as you can imagine.
Q: Do you have any new figures on the French who have left Chad?
According to the latest figures in my possession, which are those of February 7 at 11:30 P.M., 1,389 people had arrived in Libreville. Of them, 537 are French and 852 are foreign.
The 19 th round-trip flight between N’djamena and Libreville took place early yesterday evening with 30 people aboard. There were still people at the two gathering points—the Cité Lamy and the Novotel—that were still open.
A total of 929 people have returned to France—485 French and 444 foreigners.
Q: Are you still calling for people to go to these gathering points?
Since this morning, we’ve been recommending that people go home, as calm has returned to N’djamena. Our embassy has released the following statement:
“Given the improvement of the security situation in the capital, French nationals currently lodged at gathering areas are authorized to return home, if they so wish. Until normal conditions are restored, the greatest caution is nonetheless advised, particularly in moving about the city. Travel outside of N’djamena is strongly discouraged and you are reminded […] that it is strictly prohibited to go outside between 6 P.M. and 6 A.M., during the hours of curfew.”
Finally, unless the situation changes for the worse, our embassy in N’djamena says that an update will be broadcast over the radio on Monday, February 11, at 8 A.M.
Q: Is the French ambassador assuming a lot of responsibilities lately?
He is assuming his responsibilities with the full cooperation and agreement of Paris. Our ambassador is carrying out his instructions. He is on the ground and is analyzing the situation. You know, in this type of situation, governments—and this goes for France as for all other governments—assume their responsibilities. We are analyzing the situation based on the information we have on the ground, based on the information we might get from other countries that are also on the ground. We then give the instructions we deem appropriate to the situation on the basis of our analysis.
Q: If we are to judge what you you’ve just conveyed from the ambassador, he says the situation remains very grave but “I advise you to go home.” I see a political message there, don’t you?
No, that’s not what the ambassador is saying. He notes that the situation has become much calmer than it was a few days ago. And it’s not just the ambassador who has observed this. All the observers on the ground have noted the same thing. And he says very cautiously that if things change, there will be other announcements. A government’s responsibility, an ambassador’s responsibility is to monitor what is happening to its/his nationals and to give them prudent advice. Today our ambassador notes that given the situation, he can advise people at gathering points to go home, if they wish—and I emphasize “if they wish.”
That means he believes that sufficient security conditions exist for those who wish to return home to do so.
Nationals of some other countries have made the same decision. We are also hearing about refugees from Chad in Cameroon who are thinking about going home.
Q: Where are the rebels?
Today the situation in N’djamena is calm, but there are still armed bands in the east of the country. But I don’t have very specific information to give you about that. I refer you to the Defense Ministry. We remain extremely cautious. That’s why we are strongly discouraging people from moving about the city, let alone outside the capital. Even though calm has returned to N’djamena, there’s still the rest of Chad. And the situation is not definitively stabilized.