Bombings in Algiers
Letter of condolence from M. Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, to M. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria - Paris, April 11, 2007
President Bouteflika, [handwritten:] Dear Friend,
I was appalled to learn of the dreadful bomb attacks which hit Algiers this morning. France utterly condemns them.
My thoughts go first to the victims of this tragic event and their families. I ask you to be kind enough to convey to them, on my and the French government’s behalf, my most sincere and heartfelt condolences.
I also want to express to you the French government’s wholehearted solidarity in the battle the Algerian authorities are waging against international terrorism, which is a battle shared by our two governments.
Fight against terrorism in Algiers and Morocco
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson – April 13, 2007
Q: Concerning the attacks, are there any applicable French-Moroccan or French-Algerian provisions that apply, or are there any perhaps within the EUROMED framework? Is there a mechanism that is automatically applied or does the Algerian government have to request it?
What’s very important is international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. There is very strong bilateral cooperation among European intelligence services. There’s also multilateral cooperation on the European scale in all of Europe’s anti-terrorism bodies, and notably the Terrorist Working Group (TWG). We also contribute to the operations of the secretary-general of the EU Council on terrorism-related issues.
As for external relations, there is also cooperation, notably within the framework of the Barcelona process. In that framework, we adopted an anti-terrorism code of conduct in 2005. There is also cooperation with the Gulf States and the countries of the African Union.
Additionally, there’s cooperation at the UN level. You know there is an important international agreement to suppress the financing of terrorism. And in a whole series of bodies such as the G8, for example, and what we call the FATF, the Financial Action Task Force in charge of fighting money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
That’s the international and multilateral framework. There’s also bilateral cooperation, in the form of bilateral exchanges among intelligence services. There’s also technical assistance, which France provides through the SCTIP—a body run by the Interior Ministry to promote international police cooperation. The SCTIP carries out more than 200 projects annually on the international level.
Not all of that translates necessarily into official bilateral agreements, but there’s very a tight-knit, close cooperation.
Iraq
Press briefing given by Foreign Ministry spokesperson – April 13, 2007
France condemns the attack on the Iraqi Parliament, which deliberately targeted elected representatives of the people, as well as the destruction of the al-Sarafiya Bridge, a symbol of the ties between communities. It denounces all the acts of violence that are shedding Iraqi blood and aggravating divisions within Iraqi society.
It assures the families and loved ones of the victims of its deepest compassion and offers its condolences to them, to the Iraqi authorities and to the Iraqi people.
It calls on all Iraqis to mobilize on behalf of stability and unity.
… Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur
Communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic concerning the appointment to the Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur of the "Righteous of France" – Easter 2007 honours list – Paris, April 6, 2007
After paying tribute to the "Righteous of France" at the Panthéon, on 18 January 2007, President Chirac called for the honouring of the Frenchwomen and Frenchmen recognized as Righteous among the Nations by their appointment, in the Easter 2007 honours list, to the Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur.
By contributing, in the darkest hours of our history, to saving three quarters of the Jews of France from deportation and so from almost certain death, these women and these men embodied the values which underpin the Nation and the Republic. France is deeply honoured by them./.
… Battle of Vimy Ridge
Speech by M. Dominique de Villepin, Prime Minister, in honour of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge - Vimy, April 9, 2007
We are gathered today at the monument to the Canadian soldiers killed at the battle of Vimy Ridge.
90 years ago, on Easter Monday 1917, an allied offensive attacked an enemy fortress here, a fortress defended by reinforced concrete, barbed wire, machine-gun nests, mines and trenches, and which had already cost the lives of more than 150,000 Entente troops.
[In English:] 90 years ago this Easter Monday, after a week of shelling the enemy lines, in driving sleet, 35,000 Canadian soldiers launched their assault. Beneath a deluge of fire, they advanced towards the German defences. By midnight on Tuesday, Vimy Ridge had fallen. 3,600 Canadian troops were dead and 11,000 wounded. By their courage and their spirit of sacrifice, those who fought at Vimy struck one of the first of the blows that opened the way to victory a year and a half later.
Altogether 66,000 Canadians, all volunteers, many of them so young, coming from all over Canada, were to give their lives for this war fought so far from home. They did so out of solidarity with Great Britain and with France, their brothers. That is why on 26 July 1936, King Edward VIII, your uncle, Ma’am, inaugurated this monument of commemoration and gratitude.
Your nation, Mr Prime Minister, displayed this same solidarity again at Dieppe on 19 August 1942, and on D-Day, when Canadian troops were in the front line on Juno Beach, paving the way for the Liberation of Europe.
[In French:] The heros of Vimy died to defend values which have constantly united us and brought us together: values of peace, freedom, tolerance and respect for man. Our democracies must go on defending these values throughout the world.
This is why we are together involved in safeguarding peace in Bosnia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Haiti and Afghanistan. It's why I want, in France's name, to pay a solemn tribute to the Canadian soldiers fallen on French soil.
In my thoughts too are the six Canadian soldiers killed yesterday in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
To our British allies, I want to express our unfailing gratitude.
On this Artois soil which has suffered so much, and where our allies were our liberators, France says thank you to Canada. [In English:] Thank you Canada.
[In French:] To the Great War veterans, I want to express the whole nation's heartfelt admiration and deep gratitude.
France honours the Canadian soldiers! France honours Canada! Long live the Republic! Long live France!/.
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