Jean-Marc Ayrault will take part, on the sidelines of the Brussels conference on Syria, in a meeting on the ongoing food crisis in Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen. This meeting is being held on the initiative of High Representative Federica Mogherini, German Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel, and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien.

Toward the end of the day, the minister will chair a consultation meeting at the Quai d'Orsay with the NGOs, involving the Ministry's crisis and support center and representatives of several French and international NGOs in order to take stock of the emergency response to this major food crisis.

These meetings are aimed at mobilizing international humanitarian assistance following the warning issued by the UN regarding the threat of malnutrition and famine facing 20 million people in these four countries.

Germany – Harlem Désir's participation in the conference on French-German cross-border cooperation (Hambach - April 5-6, 2017)

Harlem Désir, Minister of State for European Affairs and Secretary-General for French-German Cooperation, will take part in the conference on French-German cross-border cooperation on April 5 and 6 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. This meeting will involve, in addition to the two governments, the French border regions (Grand Est) and the German border regions (Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Württemberg), as well as all local stakeholders.

This is the third conference on French-German cross-border cooperation and will focus on the key areas of our cross-border cooperation including employment opportunities, cooperation in the area of vocational training and apprenticeships, transport development, and cooperation in the digital, cultural academic and health spheres.

North Korea – Firing of a ballistic missile (April 4, 2017)

France condemns the firing of a missile by North Korea on April 4 which fell into the sea off the coast of Japan.

France calls on North Korea to abandon the nuclear and ballistic program being conducted in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions. This program threatens regional and international security.

The repeated provocations by the North Korean leaders and their continued policy of violating the nuclear non-proliferation regime calls for a firm and united response by the entire international community.

Iraq – Terrorist attack in Tikrit (April 4, 2017)

France condemns the terrorist attack on April 4 in Tikrit which killed at least 30 people and injured many others.

We extend our condolences to the victims' families. France stands alongside the Iraqi authorities in the fight against terrorism and assures them of its support.

Pakistan – Attack in Lahore (April 5, 2017)

France condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack on census workers on April 5 in Lahore that left at least six dead and a dozen injured.

In these tragic circumstances, France offers its condolences to the victims' families and assures Pakistan of its solidarity and support in the fight against terrorism.

Armenia / Azerbaijan – First anniversary of the truce following the "Four-Day War"

A year ago, the hostilities that had broken out in Nagorno-Karabakh between April 2 and 5, to the grief of the people of the region, were suspended. As co-chair of the Minsk Group, France worked actively with its Russian and American partners to end the fighting and resume negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

France reiterates its conviction that the current status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh is untenable and that there can be no military solution to the conflict. It calls on the parties to abide by the commitments taken at the Vienna summit on May 16, 2016, and the Saint Petersburg summit on June 20, 2016: to respect the cease fire, establish trust-building measures, and resume negotiations.

As President Hollande noted at recent meetings in Paris with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts, France remains fully committed to achieving a negotiated, lasting solution to this conflict that promotes stability and prosperity throughout the region.