VISIT BY BRUNO LE MAIRE TO SLOVENIA, HUNGARY, AND SLOVAKIA (MARCH 5-6)
FRANCE / NEW ZEALAND
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AND EUROPEAN AFFAIRS (MARCH 5-6)
SUDAN / ICC
VISIT BY BRUNO LE MAIRE TO SLOVENIA, HUNGARY, AND SLOVAKIA (MARCH 5-6)
Bruno Le Maire, State Secretary of European Affairs, will be in Slovenia, Hungary, and Slovakia today and tomorrow, to send a message of solidarity and European unity in confronting the economic and financial crisis.
This visit also demonstrates France’s willingness to strengthen relations with the central and eastern European countries, relations that have seen new momentum since the signing by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of strategic partnership agreements with a great number of these countries.
Aside from his counterparts, the Secretary of State will meet with the economic and financial leaders and representatives of the banking and automobile sectors.
These meetings will allow our partners to make a collective assessment of the consequences of the economic and financial crisis, and to contribute to the search for a common EU response, in anticipation of the March 19-20 European Council and the G8 meeting in London on April 2.
In Ljubljana, Bruno Le Maire will meet with the Slovenian Prime Minister, Borut Pahor, the Finance Minister, France Krizanic, and the Minister for Development and European Affairs, Mitja Gaspari.
In Budapest, the Secretary of State will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kinga Goncz, and with the State Secretary for European Affairs, Gabor Ivan. He will also meet with the Deputy Governor of the National Bank, Ferenc Karvalits, and the Finance Minister, Janos Veres.
Finally, in Bratislava, Bruno Le Maire will meet with the Finance Secretary of State Peter Kazimir, and the Secretary of State of European Affairs Olga Algayerova, as well as with the President of the Central Bank.
FRANCE / NEW ZEALAND
On Friday, March 6, at 5pm, Bernard Kouchner will meet with his New Zealand counterpart, Murray McCully, who makes his first visit to France since his appointment in November 2008. This meeting occurs within the context of our desire to strengthen political dialogue with New Zealand, and to exchange opinions, notably on the situation in the South Pacific.
The ministers will also discuss ways of strengthening our cultural and scientific relations, in particular through the New Zealand/France Friendship Fund, which is endowed with 1.8 million euros.
Finally, Bernard Kouchner and Murray McCully will discuss the stakes in international security and the fight against terrorism, the international financial crisis, climate change, and development.
The two ministers will hold a press conference at the end of their meeting.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AND EUROPEAN AFFAIRS (MARCH 5-6)
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Bernard Kouchner expressed his wish that the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs would again be the forum for meetings and debates on the topic of women.
Women are at the center of our diplomacy and reform. They are also the subject of renewed attention in French diplomacy, with view toward guaranteeing their rights worldwide and better including them in our policies of cooperation and development.
This afternoon at Quai d’Orsay, Bernard Kouchner will preside over a round table discussion led by the Ministry’s Department of Human Resources, entitled “Ministry Reform is Impossible without Women: How can we change our methods of work to ensure male/female equality and a better balance between personal and professional life?”
Rama Yade, Secretary of State for Human Rights, will open the Friday’s debates, which will include three round table discussions on the following topics:
France’s efforts to promote women’s rights throughout the world;
Increasing recognition of women’s influence in foreign aid and reconstruction policies;
Women of the World. This round table discussion will include the participation of Titouan Lamazou.
This occasion will provide opportunity for discussions on policies promoting women’s rights throughout the world, assessments on the topic by the French Presidency of the EU Council, and the role of women in reconstruction and development. The presence of Titouan Lamazou will enable a better understanding of an enduring artistic work that gives voice to women of the entire world.
The three round table discussions on March 6 are open to the press.
SUDAN / ICC
Q - The Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced yesterday that his government had expelled 10 foreign humanitarian organizations intervening in Darfur, several of which were French. What is your reaction?
We support the demand expressed yesterday by the UN Secretary-General, which asked the Sudanese government to repeal these measures addressed toward certain principal humanitarian players in Sudan.
The continuation of humanitarian operations in Darfur is vital to the more than 4 million people that depend on them – in particular, the 2.5 million displaced persons.
The curtailment of principal humanitarian activities in Darfur would immediately place these populations in danger.
The protection of the people of Darfur is at stake, and this calls for all players – beginning with the Sudanese authorities – to demonstrate responsibility. We ask them to comply with international humanitarian law, in order to avoid the worsening of this humanitarian tragedy./.