I utterly condemn the further deliberate bombing of a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in northern Syria. Six patients and a hospital employee were killed during two separate attacks against the same target. Eight personnel members are still missing and the organization reports that dozens of people have been injured.

The attacks against health facilities in Syria by the regime and its supporters are unacceptable and must stop immediately. They constitute war crimes.

All parties must strive to implement without delay the provisions of UNSCR 2254 and in particular guarantee the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all areas that are besieged or difficult to access. It is more urgent than ever to implement the commitments relating to the cessation of hostilities made in Munich by the International Syria Support Group.

Syria – Telephone conversation between Jean-Marc Ayrault and his Turkish counterpart (February 15, 2016)

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, discussed the situation in Syria with Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the evening of February 15.

He reaffirmed that our priority is to implement UNSCR 2254 and the communiqué adopted by the International Syria Support Group on February 11 in Munich in order to bring hostilities to an end and to allow inter-Syrian negotiations to resume.

Jean-Marc Ayrault expressed France’s very deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Aleppo, where the continued bombing by the regime and its allies is exacerbating the suffering of the people. He indicated that the common goal of France and Turkey should be to bring the fighting to an end.

He also stressed the need to strengthen our cooperation with Turkey in the fight against Daesh.

Health – Launch of the European Medical Corps (February 15, 2016)

Yesterday Jean-Marc Ayrault attended the launch of the European Medical Corps, designed to respond faster and more effectively to international health crises, particularly in light of the Ebola epidemic and the troubling spread of the Zika virus.

France is pleased that this French-German initiative has become a reality, one that fits in with the “European volunteer reserve” with regard to disaster response. Nine member states, including France, will supply personnel and equipment.

Strengthening international health security is one of our foreign policy priorities. A high-level conference will be held in Lyon on March 22-23 to review the situation and undertake new initiatives.

EU – Harlem Désir attending General Affairs Council (Brussels - February 16, 2016)

Harlem Désir, minister of state for European affairs, is attending today’s General Affairs Council.

It will prepare the European Council of February 18-19, which will deal with the United Kingdom’s demands and the implementation of European decisions to respond to the refugee crisis.

Participants will also have an initial conversation on preparations for the European Council of March 17-18 and will review the implementation of the Interinstitutional Agreement of December 2015 between the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament on better law-making.