France condemns this morning’s attack in Nazran which resulted in several casualties and which targeted the President of the Republic of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.
We would like this new attack, which highlights the fragility of the situation in the North Caucasus, to be fully clarified.
A mission led by the Human Rights Ambassador, François Zimeray, is in Russia this week for a visit to the North Caucasus. This will be an opportunity to lend our support to the fight for human rights and fundamental freedoms in this region.
Given the deteriorating security situation in Somali, and today’s visit by Minister Abdi Gandi to Paris, will France speed up military aid to this country or accelerate implementation of the military training program in Djibouti in conjunction with the Somali government? What is France’s response to the Somali government’s calls for outside help and what do you think of the prospect of Ethiopian troops again becoming involved in this conflict?
We are very concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the Somali capital and by the attacks, led by armed radical groups receiving external support, against the government and the population. This concern is shared by the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the African Union.
We fully support the Somali Federal Transition Government led by Sheikh Sharif, in particular with the aim of strengthening its defense capacities. We are therefore prepared to train a battalion from the Somali security force as soon as the Somalis are ready. Bernard Kouchner was to have discussed this issue today with the Somali Defense Minister. However, it was not possible for this meeting to take place since Mohammed Abdi Gandi returned to Somalia during the weekend due to the worsening situation on the ground.
France is aware of the need to lend support to the Somali government, and, in line with the commitments made in Brussels on April 23, took the initiative, at the GAERC on May 18, of involving its European partners in its training project. We are now examining potential actions with our partners. Work on this issue will again be carried out within the framework of the GAERC in July. A European initiative in this area would complement the aid provided by the Commission for sectors such as the police, justice and support for AMISOM, as well as the naval ESDP operation, “Atalanta.”
Are you discussing the possibility of increased international sanctions on Iran with your Western partners in light of the deteriorating situation in that country? Are you looking at potential national sanctions with the same aim?
The international sanctions on Iran were applied within the framework of UN Security Council resolutions relating to the threat to peace and international security posed by that country’s nuclear activities.
As for the current situation in Iran, you will be aware of the reactions of the UN Secretary-General, the European Union and its principal members as well as the United States. The international community is very carefully monitoring the situation in Iran and the attitude that this country intends to adopt both toward its citizens in terms of human rights, as well as toward international law, in terms of non-proliferation.
It will be examined at the G8 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Trieste on June 25 and June 26.
Have you received any requests for asylum for Iranians since the start of the Iranian crisis, either at your embassy in Iran or in France?
No, we have not received any requests of that sort.
Iran announced the arrest of “five European spies” accused of having participated in the “disturbances”: two Germans, two French citizens and one British citizen. Can you confirm that?
To our knowledge, no French citizens have been arrested and we have not been informed of the arrests that you mention./.