We regret to announce the death of one French citizen.

We offer our condolences to the victim's family at this painful time, and assure them of our deep solidarity.

The number of those injured now stands at 12, three of them seriously.

We offer our heartfelt support to all their loved ones.

Our embassy in Brussels, the Ministry's Crisis and Support Center, and all relevant state services and agencies are mobilized to provide support and assistance for the loved ones of our fellow citizens affected by the attacks.

Algeria – Visit to Algeria by Jean-Marc Ayrault (March 29, 2016)

Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will be in Algiers on March 29. He will be welcomed by his counterpart and will meet with the highest Algerian officials.

After an initial meeting with his counterpart on February 16, Mr. Ayrault wished to travel to Algeria as soon as possible to reaffirm France's commitment to the exceptional partnership between our two countries.

This purpose of this visit is to prepare for April's meeting of the high-level intergovernmental committee in Algiers. It will be chaired by the two Prime Ministers. Mr. Ayrault had chaired the first session in December 2013 in Algiers. This committee will help us strengthen cooperation in every area, including security and counterterrorism, the training and employability of young people, and industrial development through major transportation, health and energy projects.

Turkey / Press freedom – Trial of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül (Istanbul - March 25, 2016)

France is closely following the trial of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, editor-in-chief and Ankara bureau chief of the Turkish daily Cumhuriyet.

Our consul general attended the opening of the trial in Istanbul in the company of several other heads of diplomatic and consular missions.

Media pluralism, the media's ability to express critical viewpoints, and the right to inform are key elements of the democratic debate. It is vital for Turkey to continue abiding by the commitments it has made to protect fundamental liberties.

More broadly, France expresses its concern over the intimidation and legal and administrative proceedings directed against journalists and academics.

International justice / International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia – Conviction of Radovan Karadzic (The Hague - March 24, 2016)

On March 24, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia sentenced Radovan Karadzic to 40 years imprisonment for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Parties have the right to appeal this judgment.

France resolutely supports the tribunal's work, which is vital to reconciliation between the countries of the region.

As the European Union Council of Ministers has noted on several occasions, it is crucial for all those responsible for the war crimes committed in the Western Balkans to be brought to justice. We are committed to the fight against impunity worldwide and call on all nations to fully cooperate with the international criminal justice system.

Florence Hartmann, who is a French citizen and journalist and the Tribunal's former spokesperson, must remain in jail for a week. What is France doing to secure her release?

Florence Hartmann was indeed arrested yesterday while she was at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to follow the court's verdict against Radovan Karadzic. We understand that this had to do with the execution of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in 2011 on contempt of court charges. She was jailed at the United Nations Detention Unit in the Netherlands. Naturally, I will not comment on the court's decision.

She is receiving consular protection, and France's consul-general in Amsterdam visited her this morning.

Yemen – Announcement of a ceasefire and negotiations (March 24, 2016)

France welcomes the announcement by United Nations Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheik Ahmad of a ceasefire beginning on April 10, and negotiations in Kuwait starting on April 18.

We support this initiative and call on the parties to embark on this process with a constructive attitude, without preconditions, and with due regard for meeting the expectations of the Yemeni people.

France remains concerned by the security and humanitarian situation in Yemen and urges the parties to strive for an inclusive political solution within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2216. Only a political settlement will be able to end the crisis.

Lebanon – Attack in Arsal (March 24, 2016)

France condemns the attack of March 24 against a Lebanese army patrol on the outskirts of Arsal that left one dead and several injured.

We offer our condolences to the victim's family and express our solidarity with the injured.

France reiterates its support for Lebanon, its authorities, and its institutions—among them, the Lebanese army, which pays a high price to preserve peace, sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity.

Human rights – Results of the 31st session of the Human Rights Council (Geneva - February 29-March 24, 2016)

France applauds the work carried out during the 31st session of the Human Rights Council. On February 29, Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault reaffirmed the fundamental importance France ascribes to its role in promoting human rights worldwide. On this occasion, it announces France's candidacy for a new term for the period of 2018-2020.

Forty resolutions or decisions were adopted. Working with its EU partners, France was particularly active on issues relating to human rights defenders and the prevention of torture. It supported the creation of a commission on human rights in South Sudan and the renewal of the terms of independent experts and special rapporteurs in areas such as counterterrorism, and the human rights situation in the Central African Republic, Mali, Haiti, Burma, North Korea, and Iran.

France also reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against impunity throughout the world by supporting the adoption of a new resolution on the human rights situation in Syria condemning forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and torture in the regime's detention centers. This text also served to renew the mandate of the international commission of inquiry on the human rights situation in that country.

Syria

What is your assessment of the 10 days of negotiations in Geneva between the Syrian government and the opposition, and of Mr. de Mistura's efforts?

I reiterate our full support for the mediation effort led by the UN secretary-general's special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to institute a political transition in line with the roadmap endorsed by Security Council resolution 2254.

The special envoy's dissemination of a document identifying the points of convergence between the regime and the high negotiating committee, the legitimate representatives of the Syrian opposition, is a positive element in keeping with the objective of a political transition.

The negotiations that will resume in the near future must tackle the concrete terms of the political transition. France welcomes the Syrian opposition's constructive engagement in these negotiations. The Assad regime must now do the same.