….Turkey/Iraq
Statement by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson - October 22, 2007
Like Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner yesterday, we condemn in the strongest terms the attack by the PKK on October 21 which killed 12 Turkish soldiers. France offers its condolences to the soldiers’ families and friends, and sends a message of sympathy to the Turkish authorities and the entire Turkish people. Violence leads nowhere and is a dead-end. The attacks in Turkey must stop.
For France and the European Union, the PKK is a terrorist organization which must be determinedly fought everywhere.
France commends the Turkish authorities’calls for restraint yesterday. It reaffirms its attachment to the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq. It earnestly hopes that this precarious region is not dragged into a new spiral of violence through the PKK’s terrorist actions.
I also want to remind you that the minister will be attending the conference of neighboring countries to be held in Istanbul on November 2 and 3. In this context we support the political process of dialogue between Iraq and all the border countries, and we call on the Turkish and Iraqi authorities, the Kurdistan regional authorities and the coalition authorities to find a solution to end this situation.
…Iraq
Statement by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson - October 25, 2007
Q: Turkish planes and soldiers have attacked Kurdish rebel positions in Iraq. Do you have any comment?
France recalls its commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. It reiterates its condemnation of violence by the PKK and welcomes the decision of the Iraqi authorities to ban this terrorist organization from using Iraqi territory for its activities against Turkey. It continues to call on the Turkish and Iraqi authorities to find a solution to end this situation./.
…Iran
by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson - October 22, 2007
We have no comment on the departure of Mr. Larijani from the Iranian Supreme National
Q: Do you think the appointment of a new Iranian negotiator will have an impact on Tehran’s handling of the nuclear issue?
Security Council and as Iran’s negotiator on the nuclear issue, nor on the appointment of his successor.
The international community expects Iran to commit itself in practice, in the upcoming talks with Mr. Solana, to compliance with its international obligations in response to the demands that have been made in UN resolution.
We hope that Mr. Jalili will be able to give Mr. Solana answers to each of the points concerned.
Q: Do you agree with the comments Mohamed El Baradei made in Le Monde that it will still take Iran between three and eight years to acquire a nuclear bomb?
As you know, we are asking Iran to implement the UN Security Council resolutions precisely to prevent the unacceptable prospect of Iran’s acquiring nuclear weapons
- Statement by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson - October 23, 2007
Q: Can you confirm that Mr. Kouchner received a letter from his Iranian counterpart yesterday and what is your answer to this letter?
The letter was made public by its author. It exists. For the rest, you know our positions on the Iranian nuclear issue: Iran has international obligations. We consider that it is not fulfilling them at this time. Iran must suspend all its sensitive nuclear activities linked to uranium-enrichment. The E3 + 3 took a position in New York as you know, on September 28. We’ve discussed matters with our European partners. Our aim is to persuade Iran to stop its nuclear enrichment activities, and we are giving preference to diplomacy to achieve this. The second part of our position, alongside negotiation, is to consider new sanctions while the existing sanctions are applied so as to allow the negotiation process to succeed. So this aims to make the negotiation process credible.
This is our position and the sole comment the letter calls for. I can add that we are waiting for the reports of Mr. Solana and Mr. El Baradei to decide, within the UN, if we will adopt new sanctions or not.
Q: Will you reply to the letter through diplomatic channels?
The letter reached the minister at the end of last week. We will be considering how to answer it; but we will do nothing without conferring with our European partners.
Q: Mr. El Baradei feels there’s no immediate threat from Iran. Would you care to comment?
I read what you’re saying in an interview Mr. El Baradei gave to Le Monde, but I’ve no other information.
We are waiting before we react for Mr. El Baradei’s report which we should have in a few weeks. In spite of all the respect I have for the press, we are not expecting him to talk through the press. Once we have the report and have read it, we will react together, with our partners.
Q: Do you have any reaction to Mr. Jalil’s appointment? Does the minister plan on having the same contacts, telephone or other, with Mr. Jalil and Mr. Larijani?
The appointment you mention is very recent. What is important, as we said yesterday, is that the negotiation process succeed in resolving the problem. That’s the main thing. It is very important from this point of view to wait for the results of the meetings Mr. Solana will be having with the Iranian side. Mr. Solana’s involvement shows the extent to which not only the entire international community but also the European Union are engaged in this negotiating process with Iran.
Q: At present a series of sanctions is being applied and another is under preparation. Could you tell us if the sanctions which are already in place or are being prepared are linked to non-compliance with obligations or the continuation of enrichment?
It’s the same thing. Non-compliance is the enrichment-related activities and continuation of these activities. So long as the enrichment-related activities continue, there is non-compliance with international obligations.
Am I to understand that if the enrichment stops, the sanctions will be suspended or else will be continued because there’s been a violation?
It’s not France alone that decides. The path we’re favoring is negotiation. If new elements come into the picture like those you just mentioned--and we’re waiting for the reports of Mr. Solana and Mr. El Baradei on them--it goes without saying that the international community will act accordingly. We will then have to talk about it again together. This is part of the current process.
I also want to remind you that we made an offer of very extensive cooperation with the Iranians, including in the civil nuclear domain. The Iranians rejected that offer. For now Iran is continuing its enrichment activities.
Let’s wait for the two reports to come out, and then we’ll see what can be decided together.
Q: You’ve already mentioned here the fact that you wouldn’t wait for Mr. El Baradei’s report and that Mr. Kouchner had requested unilateral sanctions.?
No, I didn’t say that. What I’ve said all along is that we were waiting for the reports of Mr. Solana and Mr. El Baradei and during this time we would continue working. Just because we’re waiting for these reports doesn’t mean we’re not thinking about matters together. Once the reports are in, we’ll decide whether, at the UN--and this is in the E3 + 3 statement--we choose to go for new sanctions. And it’s exactly the same thing at EU level. Just because we’re waiting for reports doesn’t prevent us from working and considering together the form that new sanctions might take. I don’t think there’s a contradiction between the two. A distinction has to be made between thinking about matters and preparation.
…Sudan
Statement by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson - October 24, 2007
Q: Rama Yade would like France to have a representative in Darfur, according to a statement she made in Sudan. Could you elaborate on this idea? What will the representative’s mission be? Did you discuss the idea with the Sudanese authorities?
Resolving the crisis in Darfur is a priority for French diplomacy. That is why, as the foreign and European affairs minister said, and the secretary for foreign affairs and human rights during her trip to Sudan, we are going to reinforce the means of our embassy in Khartoum so as to ensure a continued presence in Darfur.
Q: Are you still hoping that Abdulwahid el Nour will take part in the peace negotiations in Tripoli at the end of this month?
We are continuing our efforts to persuade all the parties concerned to go to Libya to take part in the peace negotiations. If Abdulwahid el Nour refuses, we will act accordingly, as State Secretary Rama Yade said during her visit to Sudan.
Q: France will “act accordingly.” Does that mean it will expel Mr. el Nour from France?
Our sole objective at this time is to urge all the parties to go to Libya.
…International Criminal Court
Statement by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson - October 23, 2007
France welcomes the decision of the Congolese authorities to transfer Germain Katanga, a former militia chief in Ituri, to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In the wake of Thomas Lubanga’s arrest and transfer, this decision marks a new, decisive step in the fight against impunity and reflects the commitment of the Congolese authorities to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court.
France reiterates its support for the International Criminal Court’s action and calls on all states to cooperate with it as the minister had occasion to tell Philippe Kirsch, president of the ICC. It reaffirms its support for the Congolese authorities in order to strengthen peace and justice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Q : Do you think the transfer is likely to discourage other rebel chiefs? I’m thinking in particular of Laurent Kunda?
The transfer comes in the context of an international judicial proceeding. Let’s not confuse the situations. When the ICC is involved, we hope states will cooperate fully. If there is a violation of international law, in whatever part of the world, if there are actions that are actionable in the ICC, we ask all countries to cooperate.
…Death penalty
Statement by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson - October 23, 2007
For over 25 years France has been very committed in the fight for the universal abolition of the death penalty. The Third World Congress against the Death Penalty was held in Paris in February. The ban on capital punishment was written into our constitution at the beginning of this year, and France has ratified the second optional protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on this question.
We fully support the UN General Assembly resolution inviting all states to establish a moratorium on capital punishment pending its universal abolition. The General Assembly needs to take a strong position on this question in order to show the way.
The trend towards fewer executions and the abolition of the death penalty, which we’re seeing, must be encouraged.
Abolition goes in the direction of the times. It is up to us, through resolve and persuasion, to speed up this trend.
The abolition of the death penalty contributes to the improvement of human dignity and the human rights situation.
Capital punishment has no deterrent value, and any miscarriage of justice is irreversible.
Q: Did you make your position on the death penalty known to Mr. Talabani when he was visiting, particularly in the case of Ali Majid who’s facing death?
Everyone knows our position on the death penalty, but so far as I know the point wasn’t mentioned during the minister’s meeting with Mr. Talabani.
Q: What’s your position in his case?
We are absolutely, universally and in general opposed to the death penalty.
More issues and more on these issues at : (French Embassy in Washington), (French Ministry of Foreign Affairs) You can also receive this letter via e-mail. Please, send your e-mail address to info.WASHINGTON-AMBA@diplomatie.fr
|
