Attack in Kabul on the Indian Embassy – Statement by Bernard Kouchner
Pierre Lellouche’s visit to Djibouti
Death sentence in Iran
Bernard Kouchner’s launch of the Association des Internationalistes
Attack in Kabul on the Indian Embassy – Statement by Bernard Kouchner
France utterly condemns today’s car bomb attack outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul, which killed at least 12 people and injured many others, of whom a large majority were civilians.
By once again attacking a State’s diplomatic representation, the terrorists are targeting the whole international community, which is helping and supporting the Afghan people.
I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved and assure the Indian and Afghan authorities of France’s wholehearted solidarity at this time. We once again express to the Afghan authorities France’s resolute support in the battle against terrorism
Pierre Lellouche’s visit to Djibouti
From October 9-11, Pierre Lellouche, the Minister of State for European Affairs, will be in Djibouti to support European Union initiatives to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
During this trip, Mr. Lellouche will be meeting with the President of the Republic of Djibouti, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. On this occasion, he will thank Djibouti’s authorities for their support and their contribution to the EU’s efforts.
The minister will emphasize the success of Operation Atalanta, the European operation to combat piracy and the first naval operation within the framework of the European Security and Defense Policy, during a visit to the French frigate Lafayette and to the detachment of maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft taking part in the operation.
This trip, which coincides with a visit to Djibouti by the ambassadors of the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC), will also provide an opportunity to rally our European partners around the need to extend Operation Atlanta through an EU contribution to strengthening security in the region. This will come about first of all through the consolidation of the State of Somalia. The French initiative to train Somali security forces, under which 150 Somali soldiers have already been trained in Djibouti, falls within this framework. We are also acting to strengthen naval action by training and equipping the coastguards of countries in the region.
Pierre Lellouche will be accompanied by Deputy Christian Ménard, author of a parliamentary report on the fight against piracy, and Arnaud Danjean, a European deputy who chairs the European Parliament’s defense and security sub-committee.
We were extremely shocked to learn of the death sentence handed down on Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani in Iran. The announcement of this decision tarnishes still further the image of the Iranian regime.
Like the whole international community, France observed the scale of the popular protest in the wake of the announcement of the results of the June 12 election.
The mobilization of a large section of Iranian society is continuing despite the crackdown.
We salute the courage of all the Iranian citizens who, despite the successive waves of repression and violence, are demonstrating peacefully in defense of their basic rights.
Like its European Union partners, France is against the death penalty in every case and under all circumstances. The abolition of the death penalty is contributing to strengthening human dignity and developing human rights.
Bernard Kouchner’s launch of the Association des Internationalistes
On October 9, Bernard Kouchner will bring together experts, educators and specialists in international relations from various disciplines, as well as economists, geographers, historians, and legal and political scholars, and on this occasion will launch the Association des Internationalistes.
This association aims to promote a “French school” of international relations by bringing together specialists in the field with discussion circles. In this spirit, it will help strengthen their ties with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, thus fostering conditions for broader collective thinking.
This initiative is part of the ministry’s reform effort and will strengthen French strategic thought and its spread abroad, anchoring it to a greater degree in international networks in order to act, anticipate and contribute to the global debate.