…AIEA

Communiqué from the minister issued February 14, 08
The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Bernard Kouchner, today received the Director-General of the IAEA, Mr. Mohamed El Baradei, for a working luncheon followed by a meeting of high-ranking officials.
The talks focused on two main topics: the development of civilian nuclear energy in the world and the Iranian nuclear crisis.
In the context of growing demand for nuclear energy in the world, France and the IAEA intend to work in close partnership to ensure that nuclear energy is developed under optimum conditions with respect to safety, security and non-proliferation.
As regards Iran, the exchanges allowed for an in-depth exchange of views on the entire nuclear dossier and upcoming events, including the forthcoming adoption of a third sanctions resolution in the United Nations Security Council.
The minister reaffirmed France’s support for the Agency’s efforts to obtain complete and sincere answers from Iran on all its past and present nuclear activities, including those possibly having a military dimension.
Mr. Bernard Kouchner recalled that the Six (France, China, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom the United States), who share the same approach on this matter combining openness to dialogue and firmness, wish Iran to respond to all these demands of the international community formulated in the resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and UN Security Council. He reaffirmed France’s wish to reach a negotiated solution. He regretted in this context that Iran had failed to respond to the offers made by the Six.

…Iran

 Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 11, 2008
Q: The Iranian president has said Tehran will continue its nuclear program in spite of the UN Security Council resolutions. What’s your reaction? Do you still believe in the effectiveness of sanctions?
We regret these new statements in which President Ahmadinejad shows no sign of opening towards a negotiated solution on his country’s sensitive nuclear activities.
Since 2006 the approach of the E3 + 3 has combined dialogue and firmness, providing for sanctions unless Iran suspends its sensitive activities in conformity with Security Council resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747.
The sanctions against Iran are having effects. Among other things they have induced Iran to begin providing elements of information about pending questions.
Iran must choose between compliance with its international obligations and growing isolation.
Q: What’s your reaction to Iran’s announcement that it is building a second nuclear plant at Darkhovin, a project apparently not covered by IAEA inspections? What’s France going to say about this Thursday when the minister meets Mr. ElBaradei? What are the other points in these talks?
Any project of this nature, if it were carried out, would be subject to IAEA monitoring. As for the meeting between the minister and the IAEA director general, I will tell you about it tomorrow or the day after.
Q: Do you think the discussions on a new sanctions resolution at the UN will be influenced by the IAEA’s upcoming report on Iran’s cooperation?
Mr. ElBaradei is due to submit a new report before the end of the month, but it is on the basis of his previous report and Mr. Solana’s that the E3 + 3 foreign ministers agreed in Berlin on January 22 to send a draft resolution to the Security Council which is currently being discussed with a view to adoption.
Q: President Ahmadjinejad announced this morning the launch in a few months of two new rockets. Is that a further source of concern for you and is this Iranian program consistent with its international obligations and the UN resolutions?
As I’ve said before, UNSCR 1696, 1737 and 1747 showed the international community’s concern at the development of Iran’s missile program which could provide delivery vehicles for weapons of mass destruction.
Test-firing these missiles, described as being an illustration of a space program when they have no extra-atmospheric capability, is a further source of concern.

…Afghanistan

 Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 11, 2008
Q: Could you tell us about the French reinforcements that may be sent to Afghanistan? What’s happening in the talks between France and Canada on this matter?
As the president solemnly stated in Washington on November 7, France will remain engaged in Afghanistan as long as it has to.
We are considering at this point the best way to help the emergence of a stable Afghanistan.
During his visit to Kabul on December 22--it was the first visit by French head of state to Afghanistan--the president emphasized the importance to be given to increasing Afghanistan’s stability and at the same time pursuing our training efforts alongside our allies so that the Afghan army becomes autonomous as quickly as possible. This is one of the keys to the success of the international community’s involvement. It’s for this reason that President Sarkozy decided to reinforce our presence in the OMLT.
As we normally do, we are consulting with our various allies on their analyses and discussing the situation in Afghanistan with them.
With regard to sending eventual reinforcements, no decision has been made. We therefore deny any report giving credence to the contrary. Decisions will be taken at the NATO summit in Bucharest (April 2-4, 2008). It’s at that moment the president will announce them.

…Guantanamo

Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 12, 2008
Q: Do you have any comment on the case of the six prisoners at Guantanamo who risk the death penalty, especially since it’s been only a few weeks since the adoption of a moratorium on the death penalty?
I'd like to reiterate two positions: we are in favor of closing Guantanamo and we are absolutely opposed to the death penalty.
Q: Are you going to let the Americans know your position?
The Americans are perfectly well aware of our position which we make a point of recalling to them. It’s a position that is known universally.

…Lebanon

Statement made by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner on the anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, February 14, 2008
On this sad anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri and his companions on February 14, 2005, I wish to join personally and on behalf of all French people in the mourning of the whole Lebanese people and that of the families and loved one of the deceased.
I particularly wish to pay tribute to the memory of Mr. Hariri who embodied Lebanon’s just fight for its stability, unity, sovereignty and independence. These goals are still current, and France and the international community will continue to stand side by side with Lebanon to achieve them.
At this time I solemnly reaffirm our strong condemnation of all the attacks committed in Lebanon, particularly since October 2004, and our determination to see the perpetrators and sponsors brought to justice. I welcome yesterday’s announcement by the United Nations secretary-general on the establishment of a management committee for the special tribunal and his positive comments on obtaining the necessary financing for setting up the tribunal and operating it for the first year. These two elements constitute significant progress and confirm the irreversibility of the establishment of the tribunal.
In this particularly difficult period, I reaffirm France’s support for the legitimate authorities of Lebanon, and in particular its government and army in their difficult mission to maintain the country’s stability.
We continue to call for the immediate election of a consensus president, in accordance with the Arab plan for resolving the crisis unanimously adopted by all the Arab states. I invite all the parties, in and outside Lebanon, to assume their responsibility and to do everything possible to end the dangerous void at the head of the Lebanese state.

…East Timor

Statement made by the minister of foreign and European affairs, February 11, 2008
I was deeply shocked to learn of the attempted assassination of the President of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. I have sent a message of sympathy, friendship and admiration to Mr. Ramos-Horta. I wish him a speedy recovery.
France condemns these terrorist attacks which, by targeting the head of state and the prime minister, are aimed at destabilizing the country and compromising the recovery effort which he has undertaken with his government since being elected.
France will continue more than ever to support the efforts of the international community and the United Nations in particular to foster East Timor’s development and stability.

…Darfur

 Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, February 11, 2008
Following the Sudanese forces’ operations in Darfur over the past few days, France underlines the risks of regional destabilization and signals its extreme concern at the humanitarian consequences of the attacks on the civilian population.
It calls for the immediate cessation of military operations in the region and again stresses the necessity of taking measures to protect civilians. In particular, it asks the Sudanese authorities immediately to ensure freedom of access for humanitarian workers.
This situation makes it even more urgent to deploy UNAMID in Darfur and EUFOR in east Chad and northeast Central African Republic with a view to helping protect civilians in accordance with the mandates entrusted to these two operations by the United Nations Security Council.

…Chad 

- Communiqué issued by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner February 14, 2008
The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Bernard Kouchner, learned today of remarks by Chadian Interior Minister Ahmat Mahamat Bashir saying that he had ‘launched a judicial inquiry to determine how Messrs Lol Mahamat Choua, Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh and Ngarlejy Yorongar were arrested’ and that he hopes ‘to find them as soon as possible.’
Mr. Bernard Kouchner has several times expressed his profound concern to Chad’s authorities about the fate of these three persons and has instructed our ambassador in N’Djamena to obtain information about them.
Having received no exact confirmation of the place and conditions in which they are being held, Mr. Bernard Kouchner is urging that a full inquiry be made into the situation of Messrs Lol Mahamat Choua, Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh and Ngarlejy Yorongar, that the ICRC be permitted to visit them without delay and that they should be released immediately if there are no charges against them of a judicial nature.

- Communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, February 15, 2008
As requested by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner, the French ambassador to N’djamena obtained permission from Chad’s authorities to meet with Lol Mahamat Choua.
Our ambassador was able to verify that Lol Mahamat Choua was being held in a military prison. He received assurance that Lol Mahamat Choua could receive a visit from the Red Cross tomorrow.
Q: Will the ambassador meet the two other opposition leaders who’re detained?
We continue to urge the Chadian authorities to provide information on these two people. As we told you yesterday and as the minister had requested, the ambassador had a short meeting with Lol Mahamat Choua. He secured him the Red Cross visit today. I hope that we will know more after the visit by the Red Cross.
At the time we’re speaking, I don’t know whether the visit has taken place. As soon as we know, we will inform you.
As for the other people, the Chadian authorities tell us they are continuing to look for them so as to identify them.
Q: Can you tell us if there were marks of torture? He was reportedly ill-treated.
I definitely can’t say. They spoke normally for a short time.
Q: You asked Chad’s authorities for immediate clarification about the charges against the opposition leaders arrested. Did you get an answer? And how is it it took 15 days to learn that he was in a military prison?
We requested immediate clarifications but it took time before the identification could be made. Our Chadian interlocutors, with whom we’re in permanent contact through our ambassador, explained that that they ended up finding Lol Mahamat Choua, with some delay, because he’d been arrested during the fighting and it took time to identify him. It’s thanks to the steps we took, because we made inquiries into the fate of these three prominent figures to whom you yourselves had called our attention, that the identification was made. For the rest, we’re continuing to insist on getting information about the two other opposition leaders. We remain in contact with the Chadian authorities and we’re still waiting for clarifications.
Q: What are the reasons they were arrested?
I can only tell you that Lol Mahamat Choua was arrested with other prisoners at the time of the fighting. They haven’t all been identified yet. The identification takes time. I hope that we will have the clarifications we’re seeking very quickly.
Q: Do you have a reaction to the whole raft of emergency measures taken by Chad’s president?
It is a decision by Chad’s authorities. We obviously hope that this state of emergency will not harm the exercise of public freedoms and the operation of the rule of law.