THE NETHERLANDS / PLANE CRASH IN AMSTERDAM
AFGHANISTAN
MADAGASCAR
IRAN / SANCTIONS
THE NETHERLANDS / PLANE CRASH IN AMSTERDAM
We were deeply shocked to learn of yesterday's Turkish Airlines plane crash at Amsterdam airport, killing nine people and injuring several dozen, some of them very seriously.
France extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved in this painful ordeal.
France expresses wholehearted solidarity to the Turkish and Dutch authorities at this particularly tragic time.
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Is France considering appointing a special envoy to Afghanistan, as did Germany and Great Britain?
We are indeed considering the possibility of appointing a special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The President of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana did not show up yesterday at the meeting scheduled with his adversary Andry Rajoelina, which caused a breakdown in negotiations and the Catholic Church to step back as a mediator. What is your reaction?
This reinforces our encouragement of both parties to demonstrate responsibility, and to resume dialogue as soon as possible.
We also reaffirm our hope that the UN – the initiator of the recent steps toward dialogue – is able to continue its mission in assisting Madagascar to achieve a peaceful and lasting solution through dialogue to the political, economic, and social crisis that has plagued the country for too long.
The Financial Times published a list of additional European sanctions against Iran, proposed by France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Do you confirm the content of this list? Is it still relevant today? And what is France’s position regarding the possibility of additional EU sanctions against Iran?
Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) again expressed its strong concerns about the Iranian nuclear program. Naturally, we share these concerns faced with Iran’s persistent violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
Iran must respect its international commitments, beginning with the verifiable suspension of uranium enrichment, responses to unresolved questions – notably on activities linked to militarization – and the granting to IAEA inspectors of total cooperation and all the access they may require.
During the last meeting on February 4 in Germany, the political directors of the E3 + 3 reaffirmed their unity and agreed to work on the next steps. They reaffirmed their common commitment to a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue based on the double approach of dialogue and firmness, and resulting from UN Security Council resolutions. The purpose of sanctions by the international community – arising from Security Council resolutions or individual initiative – is to bring Iran to negotiate.
We are implementing a plan designed by Security Council resolutions to fight against Iran’s proliferation activities. The plan provides for a freeze on the financial assets of implicated groups and individuals, a ban on undertaking, financing, or lending in relation to these activities, and the suspension and monitoring of all operations that could be related to proliferation.
Within this context, the EU also has a mechanism for adding new groups and individuals to existing lists of those linked to Iranian proliferation activities. This mechanism was notably used last June for an extended list of such groups and individuals.
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