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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.] CHINA/TIBET
I will read the communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs yesterday:
“We are very concerned about the situation and events taking place in Tibet and in other provinces. We express our sadness and sympathy to the friends and families of the victims of these events.
“Speaking in Brussels on Friday after the European Council, the Minister of Foreign and European affairs, Bernard Kouchner, called on the Chinese authorities to show the utmost restraint. We reiterate that call and expect all parties to work for a return to calm.
“We continue to follow the situation with very close attention with our European partners. We informed the Chinese authorities of our concerns on Friday.
“These events make it more necessary than ever to engage in dialogue to achieve a lasting solution that allows the Tibetans to enjoy their cultural and spiritual identity to the full in the framework of the People’s Republic of China.
“With the approach of the Olympic Games, which must be a great show of fraternity, France calls the attention of the Chinese authorities to the importance of respecting human rights.”
Q - The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile just announced that “hundreds” of people had been killed in the violence in Tibet. If these figures turn out to be true, will France still refuse to discuss the possibility of a boycott of the Olympic Games in Beijing as the main opposition leader François Hollande is asking?
I refer you to the communiqué which was issued yesterday and which I’ve just read. The Olympic Games are a major sporting event which mustn’t be politicized.
We also hope that the monks arrested in the last few days will be quickly released and we recall that freedom of expression is included in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which China has signed.
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner phoned his Albanian counterpart Lulzim Basha and Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha Saturday. He expressed his condolences and President Sarkozy’s and offered French assistance after the tragic explosions near Tirana at an ammunitions depot on Saturday, March 15, that left at least nine dead and 250 injured.
In accordance with what the Albanian authorities wanted, France urgently sent tents to accommodate families that are without shelter after the explosion, along with medical supplies. The aid reached Tirana in the night.
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner and European Affairs Secretary Jean-Pierre Jouyet will hold talks on March 18 with Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva. Since Finland chairs the OSCE this year and France will take the presidency of the European Union as of July 1, the ministers will discuss the priorities of our presidency of the EU, relations with Russia, the situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East, and finally NATO just days before the Atlantic Alliance summit.
Q - Do you have any comment on the Iranian elections?
This is only the first round of the legislative elections. We’re waiting for the second round before commenting on the results but we regret here and now that the electoral procedure has restricted Iranians’ choice: the selection of candidates by a non-elected body, to the detriment of pro-reform candidates in particular; the brevity of the election campaign; and the ban on publishing and distributing photographs and election posters.
Q - Do you think the results of the Iranian elections are going to facilitate contacts with Tehran on the issues pending such as the nuclear problem and the Lebanese question?
Whatever the results of the Iranian elections, we would like to find ways to a dialogue with Iran, bearing in mind that it is incumbent on Iran to comply with all its international obligations.
Q - Do you confirm that the mediation by France, Switzerland and Spain to obtain the hostages’ release, including Ingrid Betanourt, is paralyzed at this point since these countries have had no contact since the death of Raul Reyes, the no. 2 FARC leader, as the president of the Bishops’ Conference of Colombia, Mgr Luis Augusto Castro, asserts?
This is a matter where discretion is called for. I can tell you that every effort is being made to find a humanitarian solution to end the tragedy experienced by the hostages who are in FARC hands.
Q - Amnesty International found that Iraq is still one of the most dangerous countries in the world five years after the intervention by the international coalition. The lack of security has caused the displacement of over four million Iraqis. Do you have any comment?
The crisis in Iraq is one of the most serious in the world. In a situation that remains extremely precarious with respect to security, it presents a humanitarian dimension of exceptional gravity.
The priority is to mobilize all efforts--the Iraqis’ but also those of the countries in the region, the United States, the European Union and the international community--to find a solution as quickly as possible.
Q - What is happening about the proposal for France to take in Iraqi Christian refugees?
France, which hopes that all of Iraq’s communities will find their place in a democratic and peaceful Iraq, is deeply concerned about the situation of Iraq’s Christians. It reiterated this on the death of the Chaldean archbishop of Mosul.
With regard to admitting refugees, we are paying very close attention to the visa applications that are being submitted to us.
Q - Javier Solana Madariaga, EU foreign policy chief, is asking the international community to put maximum pressure on Syria so a Lebanese president can be elected. Is this France’s position?
Our position hasn’t changed. Like Mr. Solana, we consider that Syria ought to bring a positive influence to bear in Lebanon, like all the parties, to allow a Lebanese president to be elected in accordance with the plan unanimously adopted by the Arab League.
Q - And what do you mean in this case by pressure on Syria?
I refer you to my preceding answer. Syria must exercise a positive influence./.
Embassy of France, March 17, 2008
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