Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Spokesperson (Paris, July 17, 2009)

Jakarta attacks
North Korea
Somalia

Jakarta
attacks

France utterly condemns this morning’s double bombings which struck the Indonesian capital, killing—according to the latest report—at least nine people and injuring over 40.

In these tragic circumstances, France presents to the victims’ families and loved ones its most sincere condolences and assures the Indonesian authorities of its total solidarity.

France stands at the side of Indonesia, a major partner of our country in Asia, in its courageous struggle against terrorism and affords its full support to the Indonesian authorities’ determined efforts to ensure that great democracy’s stability.

We can also confirm that there were no French nationals among the victims. According to figures from the end of last year, 2,501 French nationals are registered with our embassy in Indonesia. A little less than half of those live in Jakarta, and we believe there are about 500 who are not registered, which makes for about 3,000 French citizens residing in Indonesia. About 100,000 French citizens travel to that country each year, mainly as tourists.

North Korea

We welcome the strengthening of sanctions against North Korea approved yesterday by the UN Security Council’s 1718 Sanctions Committee.

This move was provided for by SCR 1874, adopted on June 12 in response to the second North Korean nuclear test, which tasked the committee with adopting individual sanctions within 30 days in addition to the measures already in place.

The members of the Security Council thus agreed to sanction five entities and five persons involved in the North Korean nuclear and ballistic programs. Their financial assets will now be frozen in the UN’s 192 member countries. A travel ban will be imposed on the five persons concerned, preventing them from leaving North Korea.

Yesterday’s decision also makes it possible to expand the list of sensitive materials under embargo that can no longer be imported by North Korea.

Coming in the wake of the sanctions already put in place in June by SCR 1874, these new designations constitute a significant reinforcement of the sanctions against North Korea since 2006. These measures are a firm response by the international committee to the nuclear test and to the recent launch of ballistic missiles.

Once again we call on North Korea to refrain from new provocations and to respect its international obligations in order to achieve the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Somalia

Do you have any recent information on the two hostages in Somalia? Has there been any contact? Yesterday, the Somali Prime Minister was able to talk to one of the hostages. The French Embassy in Kenya is apparently in contact.

Let me remind you that we published a communiqué three days ago indicating the outlines of the French approach—integrated into that of the international community—to strengthening the Somali authorities’ security capacities. This program was announced in Brussels before UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and numerous delegations during a meeting to examine the possibility of strengthening the Somali authorities’ governance capabilities, notably in security matters.

This mission was organized with utter transparency by AMISOM. For anything else, given that this program falls under the auspices of the Defense Ministry, I refer you to them.

What is the Quai d’Orsay doing?

Obviously we are working. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and our embassy have mobilized their efforts.

What’s your comment on the accusation that the two Frenchmen were posing as journalists? What is the status of the negotiations and what do you plan to do to guarantee the release of these two people?

We have no information confirming what someone alleged at the hotel where the two Frenchmen were staying, i.e., that they were posing as journalists. […] We consider that they did not present themselves as journalists.

As for your second question, you know that we typically do not provide details in cases such as these.

[…] Has a ransom been discussed? […]

Unfortunately the reasons for kidnappings are quite simple. They are either political or criminal, sometimes both, and often have a financial aspect. That is the case for all kidnappings. I won’t provide any details on this specific situation.

What do you think of the attitude of Reporters Without Borders, which criticized the fact that these people were posing as journalists?

We believe that journalists are correct to say that it is inappropriate to pose as a journalist when it isn’t the case.

In this particular case, we repeat that according to our information, we are unable to confirm that these people were posing as journalists./.