Daily Press Briefing
Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
(Paris, May 22, 2006)
[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]
WHO
I’m going to read a statement from Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy about the death this morning of Dr. Lee Jong-Wook.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the death this morning of Dr. Lee Jong-Wook, Director General of the World Health Organization. Dr Lee was above all a public health doctor who served others, and foremost among them the poor.
“I worked a great deal with Dr. Lee in a spirit of friendship. In all our contacts, he was always an open-minded, effective and available interlocutor. Having the same background in public health, we often used to discuss the relationship between poverty and pandemic. I met with him in Geneva only recently to discuss the question of the developing countries’ access to drugs for the great pandemics. I would like to emphasize here his skills which combined competence with the ability to listen.
“In these painful circumstances, I offer his family, friends and all the staff of WHO my sincerest condolences and sympathy.”
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy will receive International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo on Tuesday, May 2”.
They will review French cooperation with the International Criminal Court and more specifically with the prosecutor’s office. This was formalized on May 11, 2006 with the signing of an agreement with the prosecutor for the transmission of information.
In the field, our diplomatic posts are providing every possible assistance to investigators from the prosecutor’s office. The first accused handed over to the court, Thomas Lubanga, was transferred on March 17, 2006 with the support of the French army. The modalities for other forms of cooperation will also be discussed.
During the meeting the prosecutor is expected also to review the progress in the three inquiries under way: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Darfur (Sudan).
Mr. Moreno Ocampo will also have a meeting with the Chief of the Joint Staffs General Bentegeat.
The visit illustrates France’s consistent support for the International Criminal Court which was established to ensure that the most serious crimes with international ramifications do not go unpunished, an absolute condition for peace and lasting reconciliation in countries where conflicts have been going on for an unduly long time.
Foreign Trade Minister Delegate Christine Lagarde will tour the Far East from May 22 to 29, visiting in turn Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai.
In Hong Kong, on May 24, the minister delegate will open the exhibition “Vinexpo Asia Pacific” alongside Hugues Martin, Mayor of Bordeaux, and Frédérique Heriard Dubreuils, president of Vinexpo. She’ll be there to support the action of our producers to countries where the consumption of wines and spirits is sharply up.
On May 24 and 25, in Seoul where she is visiting for the 120th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, Ms Lagarde will be accompanied by a delegation from 60 companies. She will have talks with Foreign Trade Minister Kim Hyun- Chong. The minister delegate will open the seminar “Hanbul Aerospace” for French and Korean companies in the aerospace, space and defense sectors, and will give a speech at the Seoul Digital Forum, to be attended by Korean Telecommunications Minister Rho Jun-Hyong, on the possibilities of cooperation between French and Korean companies in information technologies. Ms Lagarde will also meet with Hyun Jeong-Eun, chairwoman of the Hyundai Group (maritime transport, financial services, etc. ) and the only woman president of a Korean conglomerate;
On May 26 and 28, in Beijing, Christine Lagarde will co-chair with Zhang Xiaoqiang a meeting of the working group on the defining sectors established in December when the Chinese prime minister visited France in December 2005. Ms Lagarde will review our cooperation in the energy, rail transport and aeronautics sector. She will launch “Cap Export Chine,” a raft of measures to support our businesses on the Chinese market.
In Shanghai, on May 29, the minister delegate will open the 7th edition in China of the International Food Salon (SIAL) which is featuring about a hundred French exhibitors. She will also give a speech presenting the French position on the negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to students at the Shanghai institute of foreign trade.
France welcomes the formation of the government in Iraq which has emerged from the December 15, 2005 elections and aims to ensure a balanced representation of the country’s various components.
It hopes that this new government will work with all Iraqis to reduce violence, promote national entente and successfully manage the country’s reconstruction.
In liaison with its European partners, France is ready to collaborate with the Iraqi authorities in the desire to preserve Iraq’s unity and stability, and ensure the country’s return to full sovereignty.
Q - What are France’s official reactions to Montenegro’s independence? How do you see Serbia’s and Montenegro’s chances for a European future?
According to our information, which should be confirmed by the OSCE, yesterday’s vote took place in satisfactory conditions. It is appropriate in this regard to pay tribute to the maturity and sense of responsibility shown by the citizens of Montenegro and their leaders, from the majority and opposition.
The provisional results indicate that the people voted for the Republic’s independence, over 55% did, the benchmark on which there was agreement between the majority and opposition thanks particularly to the remarkable work by the EU representative, Mr. Lajcak.
The European Union will announce its position this afternoon. But we are already calling on the leaders of Serbia and Montenegro to draw the consequences of this vote in a spirit of confidence and responsibility, in accordance with the interests of all.
Q - According to an article in the Times of London, France reportedly paid $25 million as ransom for the release of the French hostages in Iraq. Do you have any comment on the article?
As the French authorities said at the time the hostages were freed, there was no ransom paid.
Q - The secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders, Robert Menard, thinks the denials about paying a ransom are a “denial of reality.” Do you have any comment on that statement?
I will not comment on those statements.
Q - Would it be possible to have a report of this morning’s meeting between Mr. Douste-Blazy and the Madagascan prime minister?
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy met this morning with Madagascan Prime Minister Jacques Sylla. They welcomed the progress in bilateral cooperation that recently entered a new phase after the signing of a framework partnership document. They then discussed the economic and budget situation in Madagascar in regard to the current talks with international donors and improved conditions offered to international investors.
Mr. Sylla emphasized the role that his country might play for la Francophonie in the east of the African continent and Indian Ocean. Lastly the Madagascan prime minister and the French foreign minister recalled that both countries were members of the pilot group on innovative sources of development financing and that they planned to establish a solidarity contribution on airline tickets to finance an international drug purchase facility which will give the poorest greater access to treatments for three major diseases (AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis).
Q - Have the EU3 convinced the partners—the US, China and Russia—about the breadth of security guarantees needed to accompany the offer on resolving the nuclear dispute with Iran?
The three Europeans are in the process of finalizing the package of incentives and dissuasive measures vis-à-vis Iran. They are in contact on this with the Americans, Chinese and Russians. The meeting scheduled to be held in London on Wednesday, May 24, will deal precisely with these questions, including the security aspects./.
Embassy of France, May 22, 2006