Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, will receive Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, on May 5.

This meeting will provide an opportunity to take stock of our very strong bilateral relations founded on close dialogue, important economic ties and the presence of strong and dynamic communities in each of our countries.

The ministers will also discuss key European and international issues.

Germany – Visit by Jean-Marc Ayrault to Goslar (May 5, 2017)

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, will visit Germany on May 5; this will be his last overseas visit.

His counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, wanted to invite him to his home town of Goslar.

During this visit, the two ministers will primarily discuss the prospects for strengthening European integration and the valuable contribution that France and German should make to this.

Mali – Terrorist attacks (May 2-3, 2017)

France condemns the attack carried out on May 2 against a convoy of Malian armed forces on the road between Diabaly and Nampala (central region of the country) and the attack carried out on May 3 against a MINUSMA camp in Timbuktu.

We extend our condolences to the victims' families and to the Malian authorities.

France is determined to continue to lend its support to Mali and the states of the region in their efforts to strengthen the security of their borders and to combat terrorism.

Protection of heritage – UNESCO's participation in the Founding Board of ALIPH (May 3, 2017)

UNESCO's Executive Board approved UNESCO's participation in the Founding Board of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) on May 3. This foundation was created on March 8 in Geneva in follow-up to the international conference on the protection of endangered heritage in Abu Dhabi on December 2 and 3, 2016.

Through this decision, UNESCO's Executive Board endorses the establishment of close cooperation between UNESCO and the ALIPH Foundation aimed at promoting the protection of heritage in conflict areas. This cooperation falls within the same context as UNESCO's strategy for reinforcing UNESCO's action for the protection of culture and the promotion of cultural pluralism in the event of armed conflict.

Following the adoption on March 24 of UNSCR 2347 on the protection of endangered cultural heritage, France is continuing its efforts to persuade the international community to implement the commitments made during the UNESCO General Conference in November 2015 and those contained in the Abu Dhabi Declaration.

Ukraine – Situation in the east

France is concerned by the recent acceleration of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine. These violations have reportedly left five people dead, including one civilian, in the past 24 hours.

We call on the parties to abide by the ceasefire and to complete the withdrawal of heavy weaponry, as they had begun to do on several occasions. We reiterate our demand that the parties guarantee the security and free movement of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

The situation in eastern Ukraine can only be stabilized by the full implementation of the Minsk agreement. France and Germany stand ready to continue their efforts in this regard under the Normandy format.

Iran – Mining accident (May 3, 2017)

France was saddened to learn of the accident on May 3 in a mine near the city of Azadshahr that claimed the lives of many miners.

France offers its condolences to the victims' families.

In these tragic circumstances, we assure the Iranian people of our solidarity.