Daily Press Briefing

Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
(excerpts)

(Paris, September 15, 2006)

[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]


SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

The World tourism Organization (WTO), a UN specialized agency, anticipates a billion and a half tourists in the world in 2020, i.e. 21% of the global population. The flow of tourists is expected to triple between 1995 and 2020, and the substantial increase in the population in developing regions (which are expected to account for nearly half the international tourists in 2020) will exert considerable pressure on ecosystems and increasingly fragile local crops.

Against this backdrop, France has decided to establish and preside over an international working group to develop sustainable tourism in the context of the Marrakech Process on the sustainable production and consumption of durables, which itself is a product of the Johannesburg Earth Summit in 2002. The goal is to promote and encourage initiatives to make the methods of production and consumption of tourist services more sustainable.

In France three ministries are taking part: the Ministry for Ecology and Sustainable Development; the Ministry Delegate for Tourism; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A French committee consisting of these ministries, para-public organizations, professional associations and NGOs was set up into order to promote French know-how in this area.

The first international meeting, chaired by interministerial delegate for sustainable development Christian Brodhag, will be held on Monday and Tuesday, September 18 and 19, in Paris. It will be closed by Ecology and Sustainable Development Minister Nelly Olin in the presence of several foreign ministers and prominent persons active in environmental issues.

At the international level the first meeting of the working group will bring together high-level decision-makers from about 15 countries, representing the industrialized countries, countries in transition and developing countries, and about 15 of the top international organizations. The aim is to establish a program of actions to promote the development of sustainable tourism, in particular through the identification, collection, analysis and spread of good practices for sustainable tourism.

BIODIVERSITY AND EUROPEAN COOPERATION IN DEVELOPMENT

France is hosting a conference in Paris, from September 19 to 21, 2006 at the International Conference Center, at which the objective is greater commitment of the instruments of cooperation of the European Union and its member states to the protection of biodiversity. The organization of this event has been shared between France and the World Union for Nature (UICN) with which we have been linked since November 2005 by a pluri-annual convention. The conference is also the product of a partnership with the European Commission, Belgium, Finland and Sweden.

Brigitte Girardin, Minister Delegate for Cooperation, Development and Francophony, will speak at the opening session on Tuesday, September 19, in the afternoon. Many prominent figures will speak and engage in dialogue with the audience throughout the proceedings. Nelly Olin, Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development, will deliver the closing address.

The loss of biological diversity is accelerating; species are disappearing at an alarming rate, to the point at which 25% to 50% of all species could face extinction between now and the end of the century. Among other tragic consequences for our planet, this phenomenon impacts on the lives of some of the poorest populations whose food, medicines and energy come from natural resources.

The 350 or so invited participants, from European countries, partner countries, civil society and international organizations, will work on a “message from Paris” that will be brought to the attention of the Council of Ministers of the European Union by the Finnish presidency in December 2006.

COTE D’IVOIRE

Following the visit to Côte d’Ivoire by Brigitte Girardin, Minister Delegate for Cooperation, Development and Francophony, and at the request of the Ivorian authorities, France is to deliver 25 cases of drugs (15 basic, 5 pediatric and 5 emergency) specially prepared to aid the victims of the pollution in Abidjan, which have been made available to the Foreign Ministry by the specialized NGO, Tulipe.

Together this contribution will suffice for 20,000 consultations, or a donation for nearly a month for each of 36 centers, on the basis of 30 consultations a day.

The shipments will be airlifted to Côte d’Ivoire starting September 22.

Q - President Laurent Gbagbo has just announced he will not be attending the meeting on his country’s affairs, to be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Do you have any comment…?

At Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s initiative, a mini-summit on Côte d’Ivoire has been planned for September 20. He’s invited all the Ivorian parties and African heads of state. France as such is not invited to this meeting which is to discuss the next steps in the process for resolving the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire. So I don’t have to comment on President Gbagbo’s response.

As for the rest, you’re familiar with our position. The international working group held its tenth meeting in Abidjan not long ago. Ms Girardin took part as always in the IWG meeting. You know the international community’s position. Once again, we’re engaged in a process which is widely supported by the UN. What we all want in the international community is to reach a lasting solution to the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire and have elections that are open, transparent and beyond dispute. That’s the purpose of the meeting being organized by Mr. Annan next week.

(…)

MIDDLE EAST

Q - (…) After Mr. Douste-Blazy’s visit to the region, do you agree that things can’t go on, that the situation in Palestinian has to be unlocked urgently and the Palestinians’ humanitarian suffering eased?

(…)

President Chirac has spoken on the phone several times with Mr. Abbas. The foreign minister was in the Palestinian Territories, in Ramallah, yesterday where he met Mr. Abbas and reaffirmed our complete support. I also refer you to statements he made about the prospects that could emerge with the formation of a Palestinian national unity government. The minister also told him again how troubled he was by the humanitarian situation in the Territories. He’s asked for the check points in the Gaza Strip to be reopened so that goods and people can cross. He’s also asked Israel again to release to the Palestinians the tax revenue it collects for them which is intended for their use.

The minister said quite clearly that if a national unity government was formed that took into consideration the objectives of the international community, this could lead to a review of the international community policy on aid and contacts. We certainly want to see a solution to the current impasses and to take advantage of the new dynamic created by forming a national unity government so as to offer new prospects to the Palestinians and re-start the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.

Q - How does France perceive US pressure against taking that direction, of reevaluating European aid if there’s a national unity government in Palestine? The Americans seem to be publicly against this track.

I don’t know if one should interpret the US statements that way. There’s a general affairs/external relations council in Brussels today. So the Europeans will be exchanging views in light of these new developments. You saw that the Finnish presidency had made statements also citing positive development and envisaging a new stage.

Then, next week we hope there’ll be a Quartet meeting in New York. This meeting hasn’t been definitely confirmed, but I understand it’s viewed favorably by the American side. As the president requested, we hope the Quartet will meet and that it can move forward.

(…)

Q - Is there any point continuing [with the temporary international mechanism] if we know that relations will be re-established?

We think it is useful. As I said, there will inevitably be a certain delay until the formation of the national unity government.

(…)

Q - What change would Hamas have to make in its stance to be acceptable to France? You referred to the document on national entente in June, but it’s difficult to see how Hamas ministers still in the government would be among those through whom the funds would be channeled.

There are the three principles, as you know: recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence and acceptance of the Oslo Accords. These principles remain the same of course, and the minister repeated them yesterday in his press conference in Ramallah. What we’re saying is that with the formation of a national unity government, in which certain important posts might be assigned to Palestinians not belonging to Hamas, given also the document on entente national, which is the basis on which the government is going to be formed, we can hope for progress. That’s where we stand.

Q - Progress in drafting the document on entente or real progress?

No, progress towards taking on board the three principles I recalled. It’s important not to rush and say things today that can’t be said yet. The minister was in Ramallah yesterday to offer encouragement, give a very positive signal and say that a dynamic has been set in motion. Now, we’ll have to see how the various stages are going to be put in place.

Q - Is there a particular reason that the minister had no meetings in Israel during his trip?

He explained why himself. He would have liked to see Ms Livni but she was in the US. That’s why there was no contact with her, but he expects to see her next week in New York. I will add that the minister, after his visit, spoke on the phone with Mr. Solana and a number of European ministers this morning.

Q - Does France think a government formed on the basis of the entente national document would meet the three conditions laid down by the Quartet?

I can’t say yes or no but I refer you to what the minister said. In the document there are certainly some interesting elements: recognition of Israel even though it is only implicit and also the choice for peace and a negotiated solution. There are a number of references that are also interesting, to Security Council resolutions and the Arab peace plan. But once again, it’s everything taken together. There’s this document and the government that will be formed, and the way in which it formulates its policy. Based on all these elements we’ll be able to come to a decision.

What I’m trying to say is that it’s not simply a question of analyzing a text. It’s not just that, it’s also the political context, the composition of the future government and the policy it formulates.

Q - Do you expect a trial period?

I can’t say, but what’s important to note is that we wanted to send a signal, very quickly. The minister went because he wanted to make the trip before the UN General Assembly and immediately following the announcement about forming a national unity government. He wanted to send a signal of encouragement quickly.

Q - Don’t the Israelis have to be consulted in this dynamic process? They have red lines after all.

Obviously the matter of Israeli-Palestinian relations is of direct concern to the Israelis. It’s obvious, and it’s an element that will be taken into account. We’re having contacts with the Israelis. The minister will see Ms Livni next week, and the Quartet members are talking with the Israelis and of course, one way or another, it’s an element that will enter into the discussions.

Q - So we’re not talking pre-conditions?

I think we should drop this almost legal approach. It’s a political problem, we all agree on that, and it has to be addressed as such.

Q - Pragmatically?

Politically.

IRAN/NUCLEAR ISSUE

Q - We’re perplexed about the cat and mouse game with Iran. Could you say where we stand, if we’re moving forward? (…)

(…) Like you, I see some hints of movement which are interesting. Particularly the fact that Iran has apparently agreed to talk about the question of suspension, so in a way is not considering sufficient the written response it gave us. Iran has agreed to engage in a kind of gloss of the text and agreed to discuss suspension. That’s a positive element for us. How it will materialize—at this time we’ve no idea. The talks are to continue. We want to continue the discussions, which are not negotiations, to see if there’s a possibility of going back to real negotiations. That is the objective we’re seeking in these preliminary dissuasions between Mr. Solana and Mr. Larijani.

Q - About suspension. The Iranians have said all along they were ready to talk about them, but the question was when. Does France think, as some say, that Iran is stalling deliberately, dragging out the negotiations as long as possible so it can keep developing its program during this time?

Everyone agrees on leaving open the possibility of dialogue. At the same time, we have UNSCR 1696 and everything it contains. Parallel to that we’ve been having talks, which are continuing, on the subsequent phases of implementing UNSCR 1696, assuming we don’t go back to the negotiating table. There’s still this option of considering measures under article 41 of the UN Charter. It hasn’t gone way.

(…)

Q - I’ve a question about timing. How long are you going to allow for resuming negotiations with the Iranians? Is it an open question, is it possible to say now that there’s some deadline?

No, you can’t say there’s a deadline. At the same time there’s concern, and it’s been stated, about not letting the situation drag on so that the Iranians can continue their program, reach new thresholds, without the international community reacting. We have to find a balance between leaving the door open to dialogue and concern about not letting the program develop like that indefinitely.

Q - What’s France’s reaction to criticism of the IAEA about the manipulation of reports by Congress in the US regarding Iran’s capacity and the development of the Iranian program, which is a pretty serious accusation?

I’ve not seen these accusations. We feel fairly comfortable about this because our benchmark institution is the IAEA. That’s why we have an international organization and why it gives us its assessment on this type of question impartially. Every country is free to write the reports it wishes, but our reference is the IAEA.

(…)

Embassy of France, September 15, 2006