Daily Press Briefing
Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
(excerpts)
(Paris, July 6, 2006)
[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]
GUANTANAMO
I will read the text of a statement issued yesterday about French prisoners who were held at Guantanamo:
“In the wake of reports which appeared today in the French press concerning French prisoners held in Guantanamo, the Foreign Ministry wants to reiterate that three French missions visited the Guantanamo base on the following dates:
- 26 to 29 January 2002
- 26 to 31 March 2002
- 19 to 24 January 2004.
“The purpose of these missions, of an administrative nature, was to identify accurately any French nationals in Guantanamo and make a general assessment of their situation. The aim was also to allow the intelligence work necessary for our action in the area of the prevention of terrorism.
“To assist the Foreign Ministry in this task of identification and intelligence, representatives of other government departments participated in these missions. It should be noted that these proved useful in that one of the prisoners claiming our nationality turned out to be a foreigner and another of the detainees, initially considered a foreigner, was identified as a French national.
“Each time, the Ministry spokesman informed the public about these missions.
“Finally, concurrently with these missions, on very many occasions and ever since 2002, the French authorities have drawn attention to our consistent position on the detention of French nationals in Guantanamo. France has always asked that all prisoners, regardless of their legal status and nationality, enjoy all the guarantees provided for under international law and be tried, at the appropriate time, with due regard for the law and, preferably, by the courts of their countries of origin.”
Prime Minister Jean Charest of Quebec is visiting France July 6 and 7. He will have a luncheon with the president at the Elysée on July 20. Mr. Charest is meeting today with Prime Minister de Villepin. He’ll also be meeting with former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, senator from Vienne and chairman of the French committee organizing the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec. On July 7 Mr. Charest will be received by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë.
Mr. Charest’s meetings are focusing on preparations for celebrations for the 400th anniversary of Quebec, the infrastructure projects in Quebec which France might assist with and the development of links between French “poles of competitiveness” and “niches of excellence” in Quebec. Quebec investments in France will also be discussed. The preparation of the summit of the international Francophonie organization which will be held in Bucharest in the fall is also on the agenda.
France and Quebec have direct and privileged relations. Together with Canada and Quebec we presented the initiative on cultural diversity which led to the adoption of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions at UNESCO. The ratification process in France is being completed, and Canada has already ratified it. France and Quebec have the same approach on global warming. Ministers, legislators and local officials frequently exchange visits. Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy was in Montreal in March where he met with Jean Charest.
France and Quebec maintain very close economic relations and cooperation. An agreement was signed on March 27, 2006 between a “pole of competitiveness” (the Génopôle at Evry) and a “niche of excellence” in Quebec. Nearly 260 French companies have the headquarters of their Canadian subsidiary in Quebec. Our country is the second leading investor in Quebec;
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy will co-chair the Europe-Africa ministerial conference on migration and development in Rabat on July 10 and 11 with his Moroccan, Spanish, Finnish and Senegalese counterparts. Minister of State, Minister for the Interior and Regional Development Nicolas Sarkozy will head the French delegation on Monday, July 10. Cooperation, Development and Francophony Minister Delegate Brigitte Girardin and European Affairs Minister Delegate Catherine Colonna will take part in the work throughout the conference.
The conference, initially proposed by Spain and Morocco, with active support from France, is aimed at building lasting solutions between African and European partners to the challenge of migration. It has received the support of the entire European Union on the basis of the mandate from the European Council and the active support of the European Commission which will be represented there.
The conference in Rabat will be attended by 30 European states (the 25 EU members along with Iceland, Bulgaria, Romania, Norway and Switzerland), 28 African states and the international (African Union) and regional (ECOWAS, CEMAC) organizations concerned. The conference will result in a plan of action and a political declaration by the participants.
The basic aim of the Rabat conference is to identify concrete, effective and sustainable solutions to the challenge of migratory flows through a common, comprehensive and balanced approach. There are two elements which give the Rabat partnership its novel quality. This is the first demarche involving countries that are the source of migratory flows, transit countries and destination countries, on migratory routes between Africa and Europe. It is also the first time that development and co-development policies will be taken into account along with the organization of legal migration and action against illegal immigration.
France is proposing to its European and African partners an initial series of specific actions.
The establishment of a Euro-African observatory of migration for the purpose of accurately identifying migratory routes will be discussed. The launch of new co-development projects between Europe and Africa mobilizing the diasporas settled in Europe and specifically using existing community financing will be proposed.
Special attention will be paid to increasing the mobility of skilled people between Europe and Africa through concrete measures targeted in particular to students, young professionals, doctors and researchers. France will also support the joint definition of a strategy with regard to readmission aimed at covering the main stages in migratory routes and providing for the necessary measures of assistance.
In all France has formulated 18 proposals collected in a booklet that will be distributed at the Rabat conference.
Brigitte Girardin, Minister Delegate for Cooperation, Development and Francophony, will visit Mali on July 7 and 8.
On July 7 Ms Girardin will take part in the proceedings of the ministerial meeting of the air navigation safety agency in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA).
That same day she will be received by President Touré. She will also meet with Prime Minister Issoufi Maiga, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Moctar Ouane and Minister for Malians Abroad and African Integration Oumar Dicko.
Ms Girardin and the Malian authorities will sign the framework partnership document between France and Mali which sets out the priorities for cooperation for the next five years: education and training, water and sanitation, and support for the productive sector. The resources committed to the 2006-2010 period will range from 241 to 315 million euros.
At the same time the new convention for a 2.5-million-euro social fund for development will be signed, along with a French development agency convention for 6 million euros for water and sanitation.
European Affairs Minister Delegate Catherine Colonna will visit Marseilles on Friday, July 5, as part of her trips around the country to promote Europe and employment. (…)
At 2.35 p.m. she will visit the Cité des Métiers, an information center for job counseling, re-training, training and employment. The site has received 1.4 million euros in European funds.
Since 1998 the Foreign Ministry has organized a competition to promote French language courses and invited the winners to learn about various aspects of French culture. The program, entitled “Allons en France,” launched at the time of the World Cup in France, is designed to encourage the Francophone identity of students, with students being rewarded by means of exchanges and organized visits during their stay in France.
Nearly 200 young students selected in over 50 countries who took part in the 2006 event will be staying in Paris from July 7 to 16. This year the focus will be on museums in Paris, with special attention going naturally to the new Quai Branly museum.
Q - Can you confirm that discussions are taking place between Canada and France so the children can leave with their father under optimum conditions? Do you think the mother should be released quickly?
You’re talking about the execution of a judicial decision which involves the judicial authorities and those of the Interior Ministry, both of which have competence in this case.
As regards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we continue to follow Ms Getliffe’s situation closely in the context of exercising consular protection.
I would remind you that this matter is sub judice in Canada and I’ve no comment.
Q - What is France’s position on the imposition of sanctions on North Korea by the Security Council?
Consultations have begun in the UN Security Council on the basis of a draft text distributed by Japan.
We have said we are ready to work on the basis of this text to arrive at a firm, rapid and united response from the international community.
Discussions will be continuing in New York today on this.
Q - The Human Rights Council is considering a draft resolution denouncing human rights violations caused by the recent Israeli military operations against Palestinian civilians. Are you for or against this draft?
Discussions on the draft resolution actually began in Geneva yesterday. As we told you, we wanted to see this special session of the Human Rights Council discuss urgent questions.
We would like to see the Human Rights Council adopt a consensual text on the basis of the draft presented by Tunisia, which can help ease tensions on the ground.
The aim of the Council for this first special session is to promote the return to dialogue, a prerequisite for a just, equitable and lasting solution based on law.
Q - The UN representative for human rights in the Palestinian Territories presented a report harshly criticizing the inaction of the European Union and the Quartet. Do you think the report is justified?
We’ve taken note of the statements made yesterday by Mr. Dugard in the Human Rights Council. His criticism seems mainly directed at the question of delivering aid to the Palestinians.
As you know, the Quartet and European Union have mobilized so that international aid continues to be delivered to the Palestinian Territories. At the last European Council, the heads of state agreed on an international aid mechanism to the Palestinians. The first teams have already arrived in the field. The EU has announced a contribution of over 100 million euros to this mechanism./.
Embassy of France, July 7, 2006