The minister of foreign affairs and international development spoke on the telephone today with his Iraqi counterpart, Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

The minister extended, on behalf of France and the French people, his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the shockingly deadly attack that took place in Baghdad on July 3. He expressed his profound sympathy with the Iraqi people, who have once again been confronted with Daesh's barbarity.

The minister commended the further progress made by the Iraqi forces in combating the terrorist group and paid tribute to their courage. He congratulated the Iraqi minister of foreign affairs on the retaking of the city of Falluja, with the support of the international coalition. He reaffirmed France's full support for Iraq in the fight against terrorism and in its efforts to promote national reconciliation.

European Union / Development – Meeting held by Jean-Marc Ayrault and André Vallini with Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development (Paris - July 7, 2016)

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, and André Vallini, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie, will receive Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, on July 7.

They will notably discuss the revision of the "European Consensus on Development." Since 2005, this Consensus has provided a common European vision for development challenges and the EU's goals, and has set out the principle according to which the European institutions and the member states take action in a spirit of complementarity.

They will exchange views on migration and the role that the development assistance programs can play in meeting this challenge.

They will take stock of the evolution of relations between the EU and its African, Caribbean, and Pacific partners after 2020 and will focus more specifically on the situation in Mali and the Central African Republic.

Ireland – Meeting between Harlem Désir and Dara Murphy (Paris - July 7, 2016)

Harlem Désir, Minister of State for European Affairs, will meet with Dara Murphy, Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs, on July 7. Following the British referendum, they will take stock of the next steps in the process that should lead to the UK's orderly exit from the EU.

Mr. Désir will reaffirm the need to initiate the negotiations provided for in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union as swiftly as possible.

Mr. Désir and Mr. Murphy will also discuss the priorities of Slovakia's presidency of the Council of the European Union and the development of our bilateral relations.

OSCE / Human rights – Meeting between Harlem Désir and Michael Link (Paris - July 7, 2016)

Harlem Désir, Minister of State for European Affairs, will today receive Michael Link, former German Minister of State for European Affairs and Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, in order to reaffirm France's support for the important work carried out by this office.

This meeting will provide an opportunity to take stock of the OSCE's action in Ukraine, the Caucasus region, and the Western Balkans. Mr. Désir will reaffirm France's commitment within the OSCE to fundamental freedoms, the strengthening of the rule of law and the abolition of the death penalty.