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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.] LATIN AMERICA
Let me read you the foreign minister’s communiqué issued on March 1 following the death of Raul Reyes:
“We just learned of Raul Reyes’s death, which occurred during fighting in Putumayo.
His passing must not slow the dynamic of the last few months, which led to the unilateral release of several hostages and opened the prospect of negotiations aimed at achieving a humanitarian agreement and, beyond that, national reconciliation in Colombia.”
The spokesperson continued as follows:
Let me read you the foreign minister’s communiqué issued on March 2:
“Given the rise in tension in the Andes region, particularly between Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs issues a call for restraint.
This situation shows how urgent it is to find a negotiated solution that necessarily entails resolving the painful question of hostages held by the FARC.
To this end, the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry confirms its proposal to constitute without delay a “group of friends” in conjunction with the Organization of American States.”
Q - Could you explain if the French proposal to constitute a “group of friends” in conjunction with the OAS means the end of the France-Spain-Switzerland group? Is the French initiative in parallel with or in combination with that of Hugo Chavez?
No. We support all efforts fostering a humanitarian solution. As for the idea of a “group of friends,” which was mentioned among other proposals in recent weeks, it seems even more relevant now.
Q - Since yesterday evening’s communiqué, tensions between Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador have increased. Is France or will France be in contact with the parties to try and ease those tensions? Are new contacts foreseen with the FARC, now that one of its main leaders, Raul Reyes, is dead?
We are in contact with those three countries and our objective is to ease the situation. I have no knowledge of contacts with the FARC.
Let me read you the statement issued yesterday:
“Foreign and European Minister Bernard Kouchner was delighted to receive confirmation that Mr. Yorongar is alive and that he arrived a few minutes ago in Yaounde, in Garoua province.
The foreign minister was concerned from the outset about the fate of the disappeared opposition members. On February 27, he was able to meet the former president Lol Choua in N’Djamena, who chairs the follow-up committee on the August 13 agreement. He remains concerned by the situation of Mohamed Saleh, of whom we have not had any news thus far.
ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
France takes note of Israel’s announcement of the withdrawal of its troops from the Gaza Strip. It reiterates its condemnation of the rocket fire and recalls its condemnation of the Israeli military operation that has resulted in many civilian victims. France calls for a halt to all forms of violence. There is no military solution.
The recent escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel has led to a very heavy loss of human life, particularly women and children.
Gaza’s civilian population cannot continue to bear this collective suffering. Hamas must respect the principles guiding the peace process, first and foremost the renunciation of violence. Israel must open the checkpoints and allow humanitarian aid to pass through. A political solution must be found to put an end to violence and reinsert Gaza into the peace process.
France calls on the parties to continue their discussions in order to help the peace process move forward, with the support of the international community.
We were interested to read the UN secretary-general’s sixth report on the implementation of SCR 1701, particularly important given the regional context. Like the secretary-general, we are concerned to note how much the political crisis in Lebanon is undermining the implementation of this resolution.
We hail the progress that has been achieved, notably with respect to the restoration of the authority of the Lebanese State in southern Lebanon, thanks to good cooperation between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army. UNIFIL, whose security is particularly important to us, is an essential stabilizing factor in a difficult context.
We call on all the parties to exercise restraint, refrain from any provocative actions, and strictly respect the Blue Line and Lebanese sovereignty. The continuation of overflights, in violation of Lebanese sovereignty, is troubling. The release of Israeli prisoners is also a priority.
We support the UN secretary-general’s project to dispatch a new UN mission to the Lebanese side of the border with Syria in order to examine the means to strengthen controls and prevent illegal arms shipments into Lebanon. We are still waiting for significant concrete gestures from Syria, which has a particular responsibility in this matter.
We also salute the UN secretary-general’s intention to continue his efforts to resolve the Shebaa Farms situation.
Q - You agreed with the American explanation concerning the deployment of a warship to the Lebanese coast: the threat to regional security. Do you find that this military deployment contributes to the easing of regional tensions?
On Friday, we said that the United States explained the deployment of a warship off the coast of Lebanon by its concern for regional security. We added that this was the American analysis and their decision, while emphasizing that for our part, we supported a political solution.
Q - Can France contribute more concretely to easing the situation at the regional level?
Let me remind you that France has 1,650 troops serving in UNIFIL and that within the framework of EUROMARFOR, it recently joined the UN naval force deployed off the coast of Lebanon to support the Lebanese Navy and ensure respect for the implementation of SCR 1701.
Q - Before Annapolis, you connected peace in the Occupied Territories with regional stability, saying that an agreement in Lebanon would help ease the situation. Now that so much attention is focused on fighting in Gaza, do you think there’s a risk of regional instability that could prevent a solution in Lebanon?
We are continuing to support the Arab League’s plan to encourage the immediate election of a broad-based president in Lebanon. We invited all the parties, inside Lebanon and outside, to assume their responsibilities and to do everything in their power to put an end to this dangerous vacuum at the head of the Lebanese state.
Q - Is France calling on Armenia to lift the state of emergency and to release the opposition deputies that were arrested, or does it consider those measures to be justified?
We are expressing our consternation with respect to the acts of violence committed in Armenia that resulted in numerous victims.
Acts of violence and attacks on individual liberties must cease. We call for the rapid lifting of the state of emergency and the release of those who were arrested.
We invite the authorities and all Armenian political forces to open a political dialogue in order to promote a democratic process allowing for the lasting return of stability to the country.
We support the mediation efforts under way by the OSCE and the EU.
Q - What’s your reaction to the election of Dmitri Medvedev with more than 70 percent of the vote?
You heard the minister this morning on France-Inter.
We noted the initial results of the presidential election in Russia establishing Mr. Medvedev’s victory.
France hopes to continue its close partnership with Russia and to develop effective and balanced cooperation with Mr. Medvedev and the future Russian administration in our many areas of common interest.
We also hope to contribute to the expansion of relations between the EU and Russia.
Embassy of France, March 4, 2008
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