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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.] FRANCE/BOTSWANA
President Festus Mogae of the Republic of Botswana is making an official visit to France from March 20 to 22.
On March 20 President Mogae will give a lecture and answer questions at the University of the Sorbonne, at 10:30 a.m., on the topic, “Good governance and management of development in Africa: the example of Botswana.” Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophonie Alain Joyandet will then sign a convention on the teaching of French in Botswana with Botswana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mompati Sebogudi Merafhe, witnessed by Botswana’s head of state. Mr. Joyandet will receive President Mogae for luncheon.
In the afternoon President Mogae will be received at the Elysée at 5 p.m. by President Nicolas Sarkozy. After their meeting, Mr. Sarkozy will present Mr. Mogae with the insignia of commander of the Legion of Honor.
In the evening Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner will have a meeting with President Mogae at 8 p.m. followed by dinner.
On the 21st., President Mogae will be the guest of MEDEF. He will continue his visit to France in Lyons where he will visit the Mérial company;
The visit by the president of Botswana will strengthen a friendly relationship which has great prospects in the political, economic and cultural domains and development.
The Journée Internationale on March 20, around which “French language week” has been organized, commemorates the founding of the first Francophone institutions in 1970 in Niamey and marks the commitment of French-speaking countries to the promotion of the language, to cultural diversity, democracy, solidarity and development.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs wanted this year’s Journée de la Francophonie to focus on “new technologies to promote a new Francophonie.” Also being unveiled on March 20 is the main digital portal to la Francophonie which includes a Portail du français langue étrangère and a Portail des Lumières Francophones dedicated to the cultures and civilizations of the French-speaking world.
Q - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced yesterday that al-Shabaab militants had been placed on the US list of terrorist organizations, the day after the Somali prime minister offered to negotiate with the Islamist group. Does this measure, in your view, go in the direction of a settlement to the conflict in Somalia?
France recalls that certain members of the Shabaab group are on the list of the sanctions committee of the UN Security Council.
France believes that all groups that are ready to renounce violence must take part in the efforts to resolve the crisis in Somalia.
It calls on all the actors in the Somali crisis to join the path of political negotiations because any sustainable solution to this crisis requires an inclusive political process.
Q - Is France in favor of al-Shabaab militants being included in any eventual peace talks?
I refer you to my previous reply which entails a renunciation of violence by all.
Q - The opposition coalition in Chad, of which the missing Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh was the spokesman, is demanding the establishment of a truly independent international commission of inquiry instead of the one set up and led by the Chadian authorities. Does France think this commission is doing its job independently and obtaining results?
The establishment of a commission of inquiry by the Chadian authorities to look into the events that occurred in their country in February is a positive element. We are working together with all our international partners (EU, OIF, AU) on the composition, objective and modus operandi of this commission.
We are continuing to ask for a full investigation without delay into the disappearance of Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh./.
Embassy of France, March 19, 2008
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