The Daily Press Briefing

Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Development
Spokesperson


Paris - August 17, 2015
In this issue:

◢  India – Airbus - Statement by Laurent Fabius

◢  Syria – Bombing of a market by the regime - Statement by Laurent Fabius

◢  Burundi – Assassination of Jean Bikomagu (August 15)

◢  Mauritania – Law against slavery (August 13)

 
India – Airbus - Statement by Laurent Fabius

I congratulate the Airbus Group on the major new success represented by the signature of the sales contract for 250 A320neo aircraft with the Indian airline IndiGo. It is the leading Indian airline in terms of domestic market share, and the total number of aircraft it has ordered currently stands at 530.

Signed on August 15, India's Independence Day, this contract for $26.5 billion is a milestone in our relations with India.

The order is the largest contract signed by Airbus in terms of aircraft numbers. It testifies to the excellent health of the French aerospace sector around the world.



Syria – Bombing of a market by the regime - Statement by Laurent Fabius

I utterly condemn the bombing by the Damascus regime of the main market in the city of Douma, on the outskirts of the Syrian capital. The provisional toll is appalling, with almost 100 people dead and hundreds injured, including women and children.

This barbaric act again reflects the inhumanity of a regime that has no qualms about slaughtering its own people.

The only way to end the crisis in Syria is through a political solution based on the Geneva Communiqué.



Burundi – Assassination of Jean Bikomagu (August 15)

France condemns the murder of Colonel Jean Bikomagu, the former chief of Burundi's army, on August 15 in Bujumbura. Those responsible must be brought to justice.

France calls for an immediate halt to the violence and urges all parties to resume their dialogue in order to achieve a lasting political solution to the crisis.



Mauritania – Law against slavery (August 13)

France welcomes the Mauritanian Parliament's adoption of a law cracking down on slavery, now recognized as a crime against humanity.

We encourage the Mauritanian authorities to implement this measure, which is a major step forward.


France in the
United States
Embassy of France in Washington, D.C.
f t Flickr