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Iraq
Response to the Washington Times Newspaper allegations: Statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
Paris, May 6, 2003
There are press reports in the US that certain Iraqi leaders passed through Syria with passports and documents provided by France. Do you have any comment? 1. We’ve checked, and as we said in Washington, the French authorities have issued no visas to officials of the previous Iraqi regime since the start of the war in Iraq, either in Syria or elsewhere. 2. We formally reject allegations of this kind which are contrary to reality and are inspired purely by malicious intent. That is what the French Embassy in Washington said, our Ambassador to the United States, and I refer you to that quarter. I will add that our press officer there added, and I repeat what she said, “France considers that rumors of this type, totally unfounded, dishonor those who spread them, and it is high time for this to stop.” Off the record, speaking personally, I want to add a further comment. The article apparently cites information provided by unnamed official American sources. If that is the case, we should expect the US authorities to inform us of any eventual inquiries they make in this matter. And to my knowledge, it’s not the case. Do you plan to sue the Washington Times in the US courts for spreading false information, because it’s not the first time? As I said, it is time, in every respect, for this kind of situation to stop. Is France considering legal proceedings against the Washington Times or other press organs in the States? As I just said, it is time, in every respect, for this kind of situation to stop. It’s not time yet to be a little less polite in your comments? Thank you for the question. I think that when I say that allegations of this sort dishonor those who spread them, I think I am being rather strong. Are you going to begin proceedings against the British papers that are circulating the same kind of information about France? No further comment. Embassy of France in the United States - May 6, 2003
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