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Daily Press Briefing Statements made by [Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.] ARAB WORLD INSTITUTE
The minister is sending his warmest congratulations to Dominique Baudis who was re-elected head of the Institut du Monde Arabe yesterday by unanimous decision of the board. The Institut du Monde Arabe is a pre-eminent instrument for dialogue and cooperation between France and the Arab countries. Mr. Baudis’ re-election confirms the support of member states for his action and the direction he has outlined for coming years to further expand the Institute’s influence.
Q - Mr. Kouchner says he wants “strategic and economic perspectives” for Afghanistan. Does that also mean a clearer definition of NATO’s role there and elsewhere at a time when the organization is still divided on the issue of sending more troops to Afghanistan? Has NATO’s basic mission changed in France’s view and might this lead it to rejoin?
As I said yesterday, Afghanistan is one of the questions that will be addressed at the NATO summit in Bucharest. It will be discussed at the enlarged meeting tomorrow to be attended by Afghanistan’s president and the UN secretary-general.
President Sarkozy will announce France’s position, specifically on the questions you’re asking.
As you know, France advocates a comprehensive strategy by the international community in Afghanistan under UN auspices because the future of Afghanistan requires the efforts of the entire international community.
(…)
Q - France is sending a humanitarian mission of two people, one of them a doctor, to Colombia to establish contact with the FARC guerillas who are holding French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt. Has it already left?
As the minister said after the Cabinet meeting, the French humanitarian mission will be leaving as soon as possible.
Q - Have the FARC indicated that they were ready to meet with the humanitarian mission sent by France? Or has the initiative been taken without any sign in that direction from the FARC?
As you know, the utmost discretion is called for in cases like this.
Q - Do you think that the lawsuit to ban the AKP brought by Turkey’s chief prosecutor is a threat to the political reforms in Turkey and contravenes European principles, particularly those of the Council of Europe?
We’ve taken note of the decision by the Turkish Constitutional Court to hear the motion to ban the AKP. It is not up to us to comment on it especially as the case is to be judged on the merits. We don’t doubt that the Turkish judicial authorities will deal with this question with due respect for the principles of the rule of law and the clearly stated will of the Turkish people in the July 2007 elections./.
Embassy of France, April 2, 2008
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