| Publications | France A-Z | France/U.S. Relations | France in the U.S. | News | Aller aux Etats-Unis | Just for Kids | Going to France | Contact |
|
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.] EUROPEAN UNION
The first meeting in France of the 22 French regions and 16 German Länder on decentralized cooperation was held in Poitiers on October 27 and 28. Taking part were Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and German Chancellor Gerhard Shröder.
Hans-Martin Bury and Nöelle Lenoir, the German and French European affairs ministers, coordinated and led the discussions by the Länder and regions in the context of the steering committee that had prepared the meeting which they had chaired since July in their capacity as secretaries-general for Franco-German cooperation.
This is the first-ever meeting of its kind. It is intended to bring French and German civil societies closer together through concrete projects.
(...)
The meeting is also an additional step forward towards deepening the Franco-German relationship, which is also open to other European sates, particularly in light of European Union enlargement.
Q - Are you ready to support the EU’s adoption of the “Geneva document”?
So far as I know, it hasn’t come up at the Union. At this stage, I refer you to statements by the minister on October 22 when he welcomed the initiative.
The minister said at a joint press briefing with his Danish counterpart: “Per Stig Moller and I welcomed this initiative. I myself met with Mr. Rabbo and Mr. Beilin this morning; I saw them together with their delegations expressly to find out more about the direction and scope of the initiative. It is a beacon for the future since it tries to take to the end what could be a real peace process so we don’t think there’s anything in it that contradicts the roadmap, on the contrary, it complements it. I think it is high time for all those who wish to move forward towards peace to unite their efforts. In this context I believe this is a welcome initiative. It is important to end the logic of violence, the spiral of terrorism, and from this standpoint, the initiative signals a rather important contribution which we wish, once again, to welcome.”
Q - The Israeli government said Sunday Israel must fight to fight to prevent the Geneva initiative from being adopted and aid being given by the European states. France and Belgium intend to provide up to $7 million in financing according to Israel. Is France considering such aid?
Q - What’s happening about French financial support for the Geneva initiative?
With regard to French support for the Geneva initiative, the statements that have been made on this matter surprise us. The question was not addressed at the meetings the two main promoters of the project, Yossi Beilin and Yassir Abel Rabbo, had in Paris. Such support has never been envisaged.
Q - There’ve been several attacks inside the “green zone,” in Baghdad, including one targeting a Red Cross building. Do you have any comment?
France condemns in the strongest possible terms the new wave of attacks in Baghdad: the attack against the Hotel Rachid, the attacks against the Red Cross headquarters, the explosions at police stations that have caused many deaths and injuries. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims. The minister today sent a message of sympathy and support to the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Kellenberger.
In the face of such violence, it is more urgent than ever to begin a political process based on the restoration of Iraq’s sovereignty, mobilizing all the energies for the country’s reconstruction.
Q - Ambassador Francis Lott has to testify in the Astiz affair in regard to allegations of French involvement in the disappearances in 1976. Any comment?
We are studying the legal aspects of the request for the French ambassador in Buenos Aires to be questioned by the Argentine judicial officials.
I’ve already said that the allegations of any French complicity with the Argentine services responsible for the disappearances during the dictatorship are totally unfounded./.
Embassy of France, October 28, 2003
|
