Georgia / Communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Iran
Middle East
Lebanon
Georgia / Communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
We are concerned about the resurgence of tension in Georgia over the past few days and call on the parties to refrain from any provocative action conducive to triggering a new cycle of violence.
We reiterate the necessity for all parties to abide by the agreements of August 12 and September 8, 2008.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), present on the spot, is contributing to calming the tension. This shows that it is necessary for the EUMM to have effective access, as provided for by its mandate, to the areas under the control of the de facto authorities.
In the current situation, we are also calling on all the parties to engage in dialogue in the framework of the mechanism for preventing and resolving incidents approved during the Geneva international discussions.
We reiterate our commitment to respect for Georgia’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders.
Now that the Iranian Supreme Leader has officially confirmed the reelection of President Ahmadinejad, do France and the European Union recognize it?
France ’s position of principle, in accordance with international law, is to recognize states, not governments.
Israel is continuing its provocation and pursuing settlement activity in East Jerusalem, expelling two Palestinian families from their homes. Any comment?
France deplores the expulsion by the Israeli police of the Palestinian al-Ghawi and Hanoun families on August 2 in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
Such measures gravely affect the life of the resident of the neighborhoods in question, are illegal under international law and are harmful for the peace process, as they prejudge the result of final-status negotiations.
For these reasons, France, like all of the European states, had asked the Israeli authorities to defer the expulsion of these families.
In this context, France now expresses its deep concern with respect to the opposite decision taken by the Israeli government and to all the faits accomplis in East Jerusalem, which ignore Israel’s commitments, notably in the framework of the Quartet’s road map.
France demands that all the parties involved act responsibly to preserve the possibility of a negotiated peace.
What is your reaction to the withdrawal of Walid Jumblatt, head of the PSP, from the March 14 alliance, which has a majority in the Lebanese parliament? This change will make it much harder to form a government in Lebanon. Once again, the Lebanese are failing to put Lebanon first, and Lebanon will lose its identity by plunging into Arab nationalism. How do you see the current situation and what is your message to the Lebanese people?
We trust the Lebanese parties and their sense of responsibility to decide on the form taken by the future government of Lebanon. It is up to the Lebanese alone to decide on this./.