Daily Press Briefing
Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
(excerpts)
(Paris, February 7, 2006)
[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]
MIDDLE EAST
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the firing of rockets into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. We deplore the resulting instability.
We also condemn the targeted attacks carried out since February 4 that have killed seven Palestinians, and the intensive shelling of the Gaza Strip.
These incidents are part of a new spiral of violence that can only lead to a radicalization of the conflict.
We urge both parties once again to show the utmost restraint.
(…)
Q - A delegation of Arab ambassador met at the Quai d’Orsay with Mr. Douste-Blazy’s chief of staff. (…) Have there been contacts since then between the Quai d’Orsay and the delegation? (…)
I confirm that there was a meeting last week with ambassadors from a number of Arab countries held here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I confirm that we are in close contact with these ambassadors, and also with the authorities of countries where a number of movements were reported. We have this dialogue to recall in particular that it was up to the local authorities to ensure the protection of diplomatic and consular premises. It’s in that context that we are maintaining our dialogue.
(…)
Q - People were asked to demonstrate in front of the French Embassy in Damascus. Were you assured by the Syrian authorities that the building would be protected? Are incidents such as when individuals force their way into European buildings possible without the passive or active complicity of the local authorities?
With regard to your first point, we did have confirmation about a call to demonstrate today in front of our embassy in Damascus, in Syria. As I told you, in the context of our relations with the Syrian authorities, we said that it was up to them to protect our building and diplomatic and consular personnel.
With regard to your second point, we reminded the local authorities of their responsibilities and we are confident as to the capacity of these authorities to provide the necessary protection. As we’ve seen, in certain cases, especially in Syria and Lebanon, diplomatic and consular premises were ransacked. We obviously condemn these attacks which occurred during the weekend.
Q - If the demonstrations in Damascus today get out of hand, are you going to refer the matter to international bodies as Lebanon would like?
As to your first point, we hope we won’t see that situation. We hope the demonstrations will take place calmly, and will not lead to damage. As regards referral to international bodies, there was a debate yesterday in the European Union about this. There are discussions at the United Nations. We’re taking part in these debates and we’re advocating calm and encouraging a peaceful solution to this crisis through dialogue and mutual comprehension.
Q - Can you tell us what happened at yesterday’s meeting between Dr Barghouti, a Palestinian legislator, and the minister?
Mr. Barghouti had a meeting with the minister yesterday afternoon. They discussed the recent Palestinian legislative elections and expressed satisfaction at the electoral process. They also discussed the upcoming prospect of forming a Palestinian government. Mr. Barghouti, an independent, said that the process of forming a government was under way and that no hypothesis was ruled out at this point in terms of an alliance or coalition between the various Palestinian parties. For his part, the minister repeated the position we’ve expressed about the future Palestinian government. He also said that we did not wish to bring into question the gains achieved since the existence and establishment of the Palestinian Authority. Lastly the two men discussed the financing of Palestinian civil society and a number of projects in the health sector since, as you know, Mr. Barghouti is a physician and is engaged a number of projects in the Palestinian Territories.
Q - Did they talk about the $700 million debt of the Palestinian Authority?
We are waiting for the definitive results of the current inquiry. So we don’t wish to make any statement at this point.
Q - Did they discuss the fate of the other Barghouti, also a legislator who is in an Israeli prison, one way or another during the meeting? Do you have any comment on the truce proposed by Hamas?
With regard to the first point, so far as I know, the case was not discussed. As for the second, obviously we are always in favor of calls for a truce and reconciliation, in this case as in others.
Q - Can you confirm that General Michel Aoun will make an official visit to Paris soon?
It’s a project under consideration, but the date for General Aoun’s stay hasn’t been set yet?
Q - Will it be an official visit?
More a working visit in the context of the dialogue we have with various prominent Lebanese figures.
(…)
Q - Do you think yesterday’s meeting between Hezbollah and General Aoun a step forward? Do you have any comment?
Our comment will be brief because we consider this an internal matter and we’re not going to comment on events concerning Lebanon’s internal policy. What we can say is that any move in the direction of United Nations resolutions, which we're committed to, is very important in our view. So we believe action should be taken in that framework.
(…)
Q - Can you tell us why the Chinese foreign minister is in Paris today? He’s having a meeting with the prime minister. Are they talking about trade or will they discuss Iran?
China’s foreign minister is making an official visit which we presented to you yesterday. The Chinese foreign minister will first meet President Chirac, the prime minister, the foreign minister and the minister delegate for cooperation, development and Francophony. He will also see the speaker of the National Assembly and meet with the National Assembly foreign affairs committee. The visit comes in the context of the strategic comprehensive partnership we have with China. That means that we will also be discussing during the visit the entire range of relations, not just bilateral, but also all the current issues.
You mentioned Iran. It will obviously be discussed since it’s a very important issue on which, as you know, the permanent members of the Security Council, including the Chinese minister, agreed a common position in London, leading to the International Atomic Energy Agency resolution on Saturday, February 4. So that question will be discussed along with UN reform, relations with South Korea and North Korea, together with all our cooperation projects in the cultural, scientific and economic spheres.
Q - About the elections in Haiti. How does France view this election? What is it doing to ensure they take place satisfactorily?
You understand that at this stage, since the elections haven’t actually started, we’re not commenting on the voting. On the other hand, what we can say, is that there are a number of observers on the spot, including French observers. To our knowledge, there are about 3,000 observers, including 500 international observers who are there from various organizations, including the European Union which is providing 28 long-term and 40 short-term observers. So they’ll be there for a few days, simply for the voting.
At this stage I can’t say more; we’re obviously following what happens in Haiti today with considerable interest.
Q - Almost every day, Russia--either through Mr. Putin or his foreign minister, Mr. Lavrov-- repeats that contacts are continuing between Russia and Iran about the Russian proposal to enrich uranium in Russia. Can you confirm this?
We’ve said all along that the door for diplomacy was not closed in this matter. You must realize that referral, the report that will be submitted to the Security Council, remains within the diplomatic framework. The UN Security Council is also part of this framework. The fact of saying discussions are continuing with the Iranians is equivalent to the interpretation that consists in saying the diplomatic path is not closed, providing the Iranians comply with the commitments they agreed to in the context of the Paris Accords, which they were reminded of in the February 4 IAEA resolution.
(…)
Q - About Mr. Moussaoui who is on trial in the United States. Is it conceivable, aside from the fact that he’s reportedly refused consular assistance, that France might at some point or other seek his extradition, given that he risks the death penalty in the United States?
Q - What can France do on his behalf?
We’ve actually offered Zakarias Moussaoui consular protection several times. Our consul general in Washington met him in July 2002. Thereafter, Mr. Moussaoui wished not to continue cooperation with the French Consulate and therefore refused consular protection.
Several times, the last time was in May, we renewed our offer to Mr. Moussaoui and said we were available, and he again refused.
This does not prevent our consulate from keeping in touch with the governors of the prison where he is being held to inquire about the conditions of his detention and his state of health. We also have officials from the consulate and embassy who have followed the legal process from the beginning to check that everything is done in conformity. We will continue to follow the trial process once it actually starts. As you know, the jurors are being selected now through March 6, and then the trial per se will start.
As for your question about extradition, we’ve not asked for Mr. Moussaoui’s extradition for the simple reason that the charges against him involve actions which happened in the United States, the case is an American case. We’ve no grounds on the French side to ask for his extradition and to try him here in France.
Lastly, as regards the penalty, the debate today is between capital punishment and life imprisonment, and we know that the judge, Ms Brinkema who has handled the case decided, in 2003 I believe, not to retain the indictments regarding the attack on September 11 since he was already in prison at that time. So he could not face the death penalty. That decision was set aside by the supreme court of the State of Virginia so it does remain one of the possible hypotheses since several of the charges could result in the death sentence.
On that point I wish to repeat our firm opposition to the death penalty which we indicated to the American authorities at the start of the investigation.
(…)
Embassy of France, February 7, 2006