Daily Press Briefing
Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
(excerpts)
(Paris, August 14, 2006)
[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]
1 - LEBANON
Let me read you Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy’s communiqué from yesterday evening:
“Upon returning from New York, Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy continued contacts with his many counterparts to ensure the effective implementation of the cessation of hostilities announced for tomorrow morning at 5 A.M. GMT.
To this end, he spoke on Saturday with the Lebanese prime minister, Mr. Siniora, saluting the fact that Resolution 1701 was supported by the entire Lebanese government.
Today, he has continuously demanded that all parties respect the effective cessation of hostilities, calling notably on his Israeli and Iranian counterparts, Ms. Livni and Mr. Mottaki.
He underscored the importance of respecting the UN resolution in the general interest, adding that those who did not do so were incurring a heavy responsibility.”
Q - A high Israeli military official announced that his army would continue to impose an air and sea blockade on Lebanon despite the cease-fire. Do you agree with that?
One of the important elements of SCR 1701 is the reopening of airports and ports, subject to the securing of the borders and an embargo on arms, military equipment and all forms of military assistance other than what’s authorized by the Lebanese government or UNIFIL.
The lifting of the air and sea blockade will come in this context, with the understanding that no action can be carried out that impedes access to humanitarian aid for the civilian populations and the voluntary safe return of displaced persons.
Q - How many troops is France prepared to contribute to the multinational force in Lebanon?
I refer you to the communiqué issued by the president’s office on Saturday morning and the foreign minister’s speech to the Security Council on August 11.
As Mr. Douste-Blazy indicated, France considers it crucial for many countries to respond favorably and rapidly to the Lebanese authorities’ request, thereby contributing to a bolstered UNIFIL. France, which is already represented within UNIFIL, will examine the nature of the additional support that it’s able to provide for that force when the time comes. In this regard, the UN Secretariat should swiftly propose an operating concept. We will make the appropriate decisions on that basis.
Q - Were UNIFIL’s mandate and missions determined after the passage of SCR 1701? Does France agree that these troops can employ coercive measures vis-à-vis Hezbollah?
UNIFIL’s renewed mandate and missions, whose outlines are included in SCR 1701, will be specified in the course of meetings organized by the UN Secretariat.
Q - What is the time frame for deploying the international force? Is there a feeling of urgency about it? How will France take part (troops, logistics, etc.) and will a French military official remain at the head of this new UNIFIL? Are you concerned about the incidents that took place on Monday after the start of the truce?
The question of a time frame for deploying the force is one of the points on the agenda of meetings scheduled by the UN Secretariat. Obviously, this deployment must come as soon as possible, once the means of action attributed to that force are defined.
As for this morning’s incidents, we call on all the parties to respect and implement Resolution 1701 to put an end to the crisis that has stricken the region since July 14.
HUMANITARIAN AID/“A BOAT FOR LEBANON”
Operation “A Boat for Lebanon,” launched by Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy and organized in conjunction with UNICEF, the UNHCR, the ICRC and the WFP, several members of the EU as well as numerous NGOs, associations and corporations, including the CMA-GGM, which provided the ship free of charge, made it possible to assemble more than 1,500 tons of freight that was dispatched on August 11. It should reach Beirut on Wednesday or Thursday.
These 1,500 tons of freight consist essentially of emergency relief supplies, notably:
-medicines and health kits
-clothing
-staple foods (including 400 tons of wheat)
-8 ambulances
-8 pick-up trucks
-one water purification station for 5,000 people
-45 generators
-5 six-wheelers
-several hundred tents.
Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy would like to thank all the institutions that lent their support to this operation.
Q - Twenty-three Lebanese, including five children between the ages of seven months and five years, landed at CDG airport. They requested political asylum, their applications were rejected and they are threatened with being returned to Syria. They are still at a Red Cross center in Roissy. Do you have any more details on this case?
According to our information, there are currently 16 Lebanese nationals in the waiting area in Roissy, following requests for political asylum that these nationals without visas made upon their arrival. Nine cases have been referred to the OFPRA (only adults can file an application), and they are being investigated. Among the cases are people from Damascus, Lomé, Havana and Rabat.
The OFPRA will issue its opinion on these requests within 48 hours, according to the usual procedures. It is the Interior Ministry that, in view of OFPRA’s opinion on whether or not these requests are well founded, will decide whether or not to admit these people. Should they be refused admission, the applicants may still file an appeal with an administrative judge.
Q - But some of these people have already gone before the administrative judge and he rejected their request. There are people who have already spent 12 days in Roissy.
I have no additional information other than what I just told you.
HUMANITARIAN AID/CALL FOR DONATIONS
Individuals, businesses and communities have been asked to help confront the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and Israel.
To make a contribution to help the people of Lebanon, a toll-free number, 0800 22 22 22, has been set up. Donations will help provide supplies, medicines and food for displaced people, most of them children. Distribution will be carried out by Lebanese and French NGOs, the UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP).
So far, donations have helped finance Operation “A Boat for Lebanon.”
Individuals, businesses and associations are invited to make checks out to “Trésor public-Liban.”
A toll-free number, 0800 480 480, has also just been set up to help the people of northern Israel. It is helping to raise money through a cooperative fund under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry’s Délégation à l’action humanitaire and is aimed at supporting civilians affected by the conflict.
Individuals, businesses and associations are invited to make checks out to Trésor public-Israël.
Checks should be sent to the following address:
Ministère des Affaires étrangères
Délégation à l’action humanitaire
103 rue de l’Université
75351 Paris 07 SP
Q - The Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, said she was ready to negotiate for the release of the two Israeli soldiers held by Hezbollah. Could France play a role in such negotiations? Did Mr. Solana act as mediator in the case of the two soldiers during his last tour of the region, a tour backed by France?
We have called for the release of the Israeli soldiers on several occasions. The UN resolution demands their unconditional release. We support all efforts leading to this release.
Q - What are you doing for the release of the president of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Mr. Doweik?
On August 7, we condemned that arrest and called for the release of the president of the Palestinian Legislative Council, as well as that of other parliamentarians and members of the Palestinian government who had previously been arrested. We reiterate this call regularly in our contacts with the Israeli authorities./.
Embassy of France, August 14, 2006