Meeting between the Minister and his Serbian counterpart, Vuk Jeremic (October 8)
France/ Afghanistan
French visits to Lebanon and Syria
Guinea
Meeting between the Minister and his Serbian counterpart, Vuk Jeremic (October 8)
Bernard Kouchner, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, will receive his Serbian counterpart, Vuk Jeremic, on October 8 at 5:30 PM.
This meeting follows the impetus that Presidents Sarkozy and Tadic gave to Franco-Serbian relations in May.
A week ahead of the publication of the European Commission progress reports, the two ministers will discuss the rapprochement process between Serbia and the European Union and the support that France intends to lend it, in particular thanks to the draft strategic cooperation agreement desired by the two presidents.
Bernard Kouchner and Vuk Jeremic will also address the stability of the Western Balkans.
This meeting will be an opportunity for Bernard Kouchner to tell his counterpart how much France appreciated the expression of solidarity and support extended by the Serbian authorities and people following the death of our compatriot, Brice Taton, in Belgrade. He will reaffirm our desire to see those responsible for this murder brought to justice and punished.
The meeting will be followed by a press briefing. […]
The statement that you just made only gives the positive points; it does not mention the things that always provoke anger. What is the situation with regard to France’s priorities regarding the search for war criminals such as Ratko Mladic, who was apparently seen not that long ago, living in complete safety, in the Serbian zone, protected and together with his family, when he must answer for certain things?
It will be an opportunity for Bernard Kouchner to reaffirm two things. The first is our support for Serbia’s European prospects. Secondly, regarding the issue of war criminals, which is a European demand, we marked a new stage in the process when Karadzic was arrested and referred to the court in The Hague. Karadzic’s trial should soon begin at the ICTY. Concerning the others, and in particular Ratko Mladic, this would of course be an opportunity for the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs to reaffirm to his Serbian counterpart how important it is to us that Serbia make every effort to find him, arrest him and refer him to The Hague. Our position is very firm.
Can you confirm that a Franco-British operation is being organized to bring Afghans home this evening? There is talk in particular of about forty illegal immigrants, who are currently in France, being picked up during a stopover in Lille. What is the justification for this operation? Are you not worried that these Afghans will face problems when they return to their country?
At this stage, I don’t have any information. I would just like to reaffirm Bernard Kouchner’s statement on September 17 on France Info, in which he indicated that we are were working with our British partners to find a good solution for the return of the immigrants.
In general, we do not take action on a case-by-case basis. We are taking action in collaboration with the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration. This is complemented with very close collaboration at the local level to ensure the safety of these persons – if that is the case – through appropriate measures.
French visits to Lebanon and Syria
There is talk in the press of visits by three French envoys to Syria, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Can you tell us anything?
Mr. Guaino is visiting Lebanon from October 2 to 6 within the framework of the Francophone Games. Mr. Guaino took part in the Francophone Economic Forum, where he spoke on behalf of the French-speaking countries in the Union for the Mediterranean.
This visit represents an opportunity for the President of the Republic’s advisor to address regional issues as well as to reaffirm France’s attachment to the spirit of dialogue which must continue to prevail in Lebanon. As is customary, meetings have been scheduled with the main Lebanese leaders during this visit.
As Bernard Kouchner reaffirmed last week, our hope is that a government will be formed quickly. France is attached to the spirit of dialogue which must continue to prevail. It remains committed to supporting the unity, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability of Lebanon.
Mr. Guéant and Mr. Levitte made a visit to Syria as part of a tour of the region. There has been regular contact between France and Syria as well as numerous visits for more than a year now.
Our relationship is continuing to grow stronger. Mr. al-Moallem’s visit to the Quai d'Orsay, when he was received by Bernard Kouchner, and the visits made by Mr. Guéant and Mr. Levitte, fall within this framework.
[…]
Regarding the United Arab Emirates, he took part in a meeting of the bilateral Franco-Emirates review committee which had its fourth session in Abu Dhabi from October 3 to 4.
What is France’s position now on Guinea? What can France do on the ground? Yesterday or the day before, the minister mentioned the possibility of an international military intervention. Dadis Camara rejected any intervention and said he would only speak with the French president about relations with France. Do you have any comment?
You’ve seen the statements we’ve issued day after day on this topic. Why have we done so? Because what happened a little over a week ago was totally unacceptable. Bernard Kouchner was very clear when he spoke Sunday evening. He expressed very strong indignation. We condemned and characterized as unacceptable the massacres that were perpetrated, particularly in the Conakry stadium, and notably the violence against a large number of women during this crackdown. That’s the first thing. Then we very legitimately demonstrated our very strong indignation, with French diplomacy embracing a policy of action. We acted in concert with our European partners. A meeting of the Africa group in Brussels was held last week. We referred the situation in Guinea to the Security Council. It was also discussed in Geneva at the Human Rights Council, and we contacted a large number of African nations, the African Union and ECOWAS. The second part of our position involved humanitarian aid. Aboard a specially leased plane, France sent medical equipment and two teams of doctors to treat people who had been wounded during last week’s violence.
The third part is our support—and let me repeat it—France’s support for all initiatives, including the deployment of an African peace force to bring about a swift, peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis in Guinea.
You ask me what France has done in Guinea. I think we have done a lot since the tragic events of last week.
Mr. Compaoré was in Conakry yesterday. He proposed a meeting in the coming days in Ouagadougou between the Guinean political forces. We will see what comes of that meeting.
As part of a possible force, might France help by providing logistical support? […]
It is important to have an African force and we support this initiative. For the time being, we are talking about political support. We are in a phase of diplomatic activity. The Africans themselves will decide, and we will support all the players in the region and the initiatives that will move the situation in the right direction.
Bernard Kouchner said that France can no longer deal or work with Captain Dadis Camara, and that he is no longer considered a valid negotiator. How can France play the role of mediator between local actors, given that it is excluding this key player?
A transition must be organized in Guinea. That is up to the Guineans, the Africans, with help from the International Contact Group on Guinea in determining the optimum conditions to organize this transition.