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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.]
MINISTER’S TRIP TO LONDON: MIDEAST AND IRAN
The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs traveled to London on May 2. He represented France at a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) that reaffirmed the international community’s support for the reforms launched by President Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and reviewed follow-through on pledges issued in Paris.
The EU and the U.S. respected their commitments, providing budgetary support for the Palestinian Authority. The minister invited countries that had not yet disbursed aid to do so rapidly and to convert part of their project assistance into budgetary assistance.
All of the participants noted the deterioration in the economic situation and invited the Israeli authorities to do more to offer concrete support to the Palestinian Authority and notably to facilitate free movement.
The minister hailed the Quartet’s communiqué, published the same day, which supports the continuation of Israeli-Palestinian final status negotiations, invites the parties to change their approach to Gaza, and calls on Israel to freeze all settlements, including natural growth.
The minister also took part in an E3+3 Group (France, the UK, Germany, the U.S., China and Russia) on the Iranian nuclear issue. In line with their policy of calling for negotiations while adopting sanctions in the absence of an Iranian response, the Six decided to once more prove their resolve to negotiate by presenting Iran with a new cooperation offer based on the one they had made in 2006.
Following their joint declaration, made after the vote on resolution 1803, in which they confirmed their 2006 offer and announced they were prepared to develop it in the framework of their twin-track approach, the Six agreed on the terms of a new offer that will soon be conveyed to Iran.
This is an ambitious offer that includes concrete proposals on civilian nuclear power, political and security concerns, and economic and technological cooperation. It underscores the benefit Iran would gain from a cooperative approach on the nuclear issue.
We hope that after receiving this new offer, Iran will finally choose the path of dialogue and negotiation.
Q - The UN is going to suspend its food aid shipments to Gaza because of a lack of fuel, due to restrictions on shipments imposed by Israel. What is your reaction?
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is intolerable, as UN reports show.
International organizations must be able to provide all necessary assistance to the people there. We are calling for the reopening of checkpoints to allow free access to services and staple goods.
Q - Iran announced its rejection of any offer by the great powers that doesn’t acknowledge its nuclear rights and indicated that the old approach taken by the great powers must not continue. What is your comment?
The Six have not yet presented their offer to Iran. Let’s not prejudge Teheran’s response. Let me remind you that in their statement of March 3, on the occasion of the adoption of resolution 1803, the Six again recognized Iran’s right to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in compliance with its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.
Q - What are the main points of this new offer to Iran?
We would like to share the details of this offer with the Iranian government first. They contain specific proposals in a number of areas: civilian nuclear power, an energy partnership, economic and social development, political and security aspects…
[…]
Q - Have you given up on the idea of European sanctions with respect to Iran?
The two-track approach pursued by the Six combines the offer to negotiate with the use of sanctions if Iran does not respond favorably to the international community’s demands as formulated in resolutions of the UN Security Council and the IAEA’s Board of Governors. This policy, particularly with respect to European sanctions, has not changed.
Today the foreign and European minister received Alexander Milinkevich, head of the Belarusian “Za Svobodu” movement, in order to discuss the situation in Belarus. Mr. Kouchner paid tribute to Mr. Milinkevich’s work and to the values he upholds: the promotion of civil society, democracy and human rights.
Minister of State for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet will be visiting Turkey on May 6 and 7. He will be attending the Troika meeting between the EU and Turkey.
Mr. Jouyet will meet with President Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, and will attend a working session of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly with members of the foreign affairs committee, the EU harmonization committee and the Turkey-France parliamentary friendship group. He will also meet with civil society representatives, academics and think-tank members.
These meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss relations between the EU and Turkey two months ahead of France’s assumption of the EU Council Presidency. Our bilateral relations as well as the Union for the Mediterranean project, in which Turkey is called upon to play an important role, will also be on the agenda.
Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean will be paying an official visit to France from May 6 to 10. This will be the most important trip to France by a Canadian figure as part of the events taking place for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. It illustrates the strength of the friendship between our two countries and two peoples.
The Governor General will meet with the President of the Republic on May 7. She will meet with the Prime Minister on the 6th, and with the presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly on the 7th.
On May 8, Ms. Jean will attend a ceremony in Ouistreham marking the 63rd anniversary of the Armistice, which will be followed by a tribute to the Canadian soldiers buried at the Canadian military cemetery of Beny-sur-Mer.
The Governor General will also attend 400th anniversary events at La Rochelle. Along with Culture and Communication Minister Christine Albanel, she will attend the departure of the Great Atlantic Crossing [a 50-boat flotilla following the route of Samuel de Champlain], will receive the Grand Livre de Champlain, and will attend the inauguration of the New France Interpretation Center.
Finally, she will travel to Bordeaux where she will be received by Mayor Alain Juppé and will take part in a cross-cultural dialogue.
In the wake of Tropical Cyclone Nargis, which caused several hundred deaths and considerable damage along the Burmese coast, France expresses its deep sympathy and solidarity to the Burmese people. France stands ready to provide assistance if the Burmese authorities ask for international aid.
An interministerial meeting with NGOs will be held this afternoon at the Foreign and European Ministry to review the humanitarian situation in Burma.
Q - Is France working on a new Security Council resolution on Lebanon that will be debated during the May 8 session? Does that resolution concern the implementation of SCR 1559 or 1701?
Consultations will take place at the Security Council in New York on May 8 on the Secretary-General’s latest report concerning the implementation of SCR 1559, made public on April 21. At this stage, no discussions are scheduled on any reaction by the Council.
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France continues to support the Arab League initiative./.
Embassy of France, May 5, 2008
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