Daily Press Briefing
Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
(excerpts)
(Paris, September 18, 2006)
[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]
61ST UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
President Chirac will represent France at the opening of the 61st UN General Assembly from September 18 to 20. He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy.
Mr. Douste-Blazy will head the French delegation to the 61st UN General Assembly and stay in New York until September 22. European Affairs Minister Delegate Catherine Colonna will be in New York from September 26 to 29.
The foreign minister will state France’s positions during bilateral meetings and also at the various working sessions in different formats (European Union, G8, NATO, contact groups). He will co-chair with Norway the first meeting of the pilot group on health and world diplomacy, and take part in ministerial meetings on Lebanon and Kosovo. He will also preside at the traditional Francophone dinner.
The 61st General Assembly is also an opportunity for France to launch the International Drug Purchase Facility (UNITAID), and the foreign minister will sign an agreement with the World Health Organization to host it. Delegates will also take stock of the reforms at the United Nations one year after the September 2005 summit.
(…)
Q - Has France suggested to its partners in the group of six that Iran should no longer be required to suspend uranium enrichment as a precondition for opening negotiations? What was Iran’s response?
As you noted, President Chirac spoke about the issue this morning before leaving for the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Iranian nuclear issue will obviously be discussed at various times throughout the week. The six countries which are speaking on behalf of the international community and Mr. Solana, who received a mandate to conduct negotiations, will confer to study the next step after the discussions Mr. Solana had with the Iranian authorities’ representative, Mr. Larijani.
Q - What was the outcome of the foreign minister’s talks with Mahmoud Abbas?
The president of the Palestinian Authority went over the current negotiations on the formation of a Palestinian national unity government and the humanitarian situation in the Territories. He also discussed his upcoming contacts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. As Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said, the formation of a national unity government, on a basis that would take into account the demands of the international community, would be a major step towards solving the crisis that is causing serious hardship in the Palestinian territories, and would also make it possible to relaunch the peace process./.
Embassy of France, September 18, 2006