Evacuation by France of 17 people injured in the bomb attack on AMISOM
Iran/ Crackdown on demonstration
Iran/ Nuclear
Anti-missile shield
Egypt/ Israel
Evacuation by France of 17 people injured in the bomb attack on AMISOM
Last night France evacuated by military plane 17 people injured in yesterday’s double car bomb attack on the headquarters of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
On their arrival in Nairobi early this morning, the injured were immediately hospitalized.
In the face of the attack on AMISOM, France is thus determined to give practical expression to its commitment to stand by the African Union and all those working for peace and stability in the region. It reaffirms at this time its support for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
With regard to the intervention in Somalia, you talk about a military plane but I assume that it was escorted by Special Forces and that, despite everything, it was a slightly dangerous operation. Have you had any skirmishes with al-Shabab militia, which incidentally is holding a French citizen hostage, and does that indicate that France is ready to intervene promptly and with military force in this conflict as the Americans do in other areas?
Concerning this plane, it was a military plane and it had a military crew; thus the operation was of course very professional. I confirm that not even the slightest incident took place.
The important thing for us was in fact to allow those who were seriously injured during the attack to be treated as quickly as possible. That was really our immediate concern.
If there was a message that we wanted to convey to you concerning this medical evacuation, then it was to give practical expression to our commitment to stand by the African Union and the soldiers that come from all over Africa to work for peace and stability in the country.
The operation went smoothly and we wanted to demonstrate our support, our commitment and our solidarity with this Mission and its members on the ground.
Despite everything, AMISOM has a very difficult task on the ground and it has lost dozens of men in attacks since 2007, and another 14 men yesterday. Certain actors accuse this Force of intervening in the conflict and of not being impartial. What do you think of these statements?
I would firstly like to pay tribute to all of the members of AMISOM who, for many years now, have paid with their life for peace and security in this country. This mission shows the commitment of the African Union to restore peace and stability with the support of the relevant UN resolutions. I invite you to carefully reread the statement Bernard Kouchner made yesterday that reaffirmed France’s unfailing support for AMISOM.
Iran/ Crackdown on demonstration
We are particularly concerned by reports of violence against members and leaders of the Iranian opposition who were demonstrating peacefully in Tehran today.
We understand that further arrests have also been made.
We condemn this new series of crackdowns and pay tribute to the courage of all those who are fighting to protect their fundamental rights in Iran.
Do you have any reaction to President Ahmadinejad’s statements on Israel and the Holocaust, and his description of the Holocaust as a myth? Secondly, today is International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People – do you have comment to make on this topic?
These comments are unacceptable and shocking. We utterly condemn them.
An agency referred today to a confidential report confirming that Iran would be capable of manufacturing an atomic bomb and would also be capable of transferring these weapons onto missiles. Do you know about this report?
I do not have any knowledge of this report. We will discuss the overall issue in its entirety over the next few weeks, first in New York, then in preparation for the meeting on October 1.
I would like to remind you of a few elements of our position based on our principles. The approach of the Six has, from the outset, been based on a combination of dialogue and pressure to convince Iran to seek a negotiated position on the nuclear issue. Over the last few months we have increased efforts of dialogue to try and start negotiations, but Iran has still not responded to the international community’s concerns. It is now up to Iran to choose between cooperation and the prospect of new sanctions. If that country does not respond swiftly to the offer to start negotiations, we will have no other choice but to resort to new sanctions. This is, by the way, what the Russian president said very recently.
This is therefore a reminder; the Iran issue will however be comprehensively discussed next week in New York.
What is the French government’s reaction to President Obama’s statement that he is going to cancel plans to install the anti-missile shield in Poland and the radar station in the Czech Republic?
France’s position was given yesterday by the President of the Republic during a press conference at the end of the European Council meeting. He welcomed “an excellent decision from all points of view,” and added that “I hope that our Russian friends will understand the importance of this decision.”
Following the American decision, France stated yesterday that it remained concerned by the Iran’s ballistic capacity. What system would you recommend to counter this threat from Iran, since there will no longer be an anti-missile shield? Are you happy with the U.S. idea of implementing a maritime system, a sort of land/ sea system? Now that the thorny issue of the shield has been removed, do you think that the Six will be more united with regard to the Iranian issue, that it is one less problem for the Six?
If there is a way to reduce this threat, then, starting in October, we should focus our efforts on beginning serious discussions with Iran on these issues. That’s where we should focus our efforts and that’s where the process of serious negotiations based on diplomatic efforts should begin. We should not waste any more time.
We will see an impact on the Six very soon. We will know more after the meeting in New York.
Concerning Egypt and Israel, a journalist who is relatively well-known in Egypt was punished for having received the Israeli Ambassador in his office. Do you think that this attitude falls within the spirit of the peace agreements between the two countries?
We are, in accordance with our principles, attached to the freedom of the press and the freedom of journalists to carry out their work, in Egypt as in other countries.
Would that have had any influence on France’s vote regarding the appointment of the new head of UNESCO?
The first round of the election took place yesterday and there wasn’t enough of a majority; a second round should take place and I understand that this will take place this evening. I do not give any comment on elections that are in progress.