Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Spokesperson (Paris, December 24, 2009)
Guinea
Q - What is your reaction to the remarks by the Guinean Foreign Minister denouncing Bernard Kouchner’s “unacceptable interference”? Furthermore, what is your reaction to Sekouba Konaté’s comment that “the country should choose its future based on free and democratic elections”?
I understand that it may be convenient, for certain people, to attack the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, but you will agree with me on the seriousness of the events in Guinea.
The United Nations Security Council discussed the situation in Guinea yesterday in New York after having received the international commission of inquiry report. This report is damning. Those responsible for the crimes must be prosecuted. Impunity is not an option. The international commission of inquiry report is known: it is clear about the facts, it condemns those responsible for the massacre on September 28 in the Conakry stadium and it establishes individual responsibility for the atrocities that were perpetrated.
The day before yesterday the European Union toughened its sanctions against the Guinean junta; the United States did the same yesterday. The African Union is following the same course.
These attacks against individuals will therefore not divert the attention of the international community. Our expectations and objectives with regard to Guinea are the same as those of ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations:
- a peaceful and democratic transition
- the prompt holding of free and democratic elections;
- the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the massacre on September 28.
Concerning your second question, we have taken note of Mr. Konaté’s remarks which we consider to be encouraging. The adoption of this position goes in the right direction.