Daily Press Briefing
Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
(excerpts)
(Paris, August 30, 2006)
[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]
LEBANON/STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE
European Affairs Minister Delegate Catherine Colonna will represent France at the international conference on Lebanon’s reconstruction in Stockholm on Thursday, August 31. The conference, organized by the Swedish government in close collaboration with the government of Lebanon and with support from the United Nations, brings together the donor countries—the European Union, Arab countries, the United States, Japan—and international and non-governmental organizations.
The conference will be opened by Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson in the presence of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who will be accompanied by a sizable ministerial delegation, including the finance minister.
The Lebanese government will present the priorities for reconstruction after the humanitarian emergency phase. Two documents will be submitted to delegations: the UN consolidated appeal which takes into account the as yet unfunded humanitarian needs, and the document prepared by the Lebanese government outlining the national plan for early reconstruction needs in order to bring about the conditions for a return to normal and for infrastructure repair.
Ms Colonna will recall the substantial humanitarian assistance that France has already offered in a bilateral and European framework in response to the initial needs. She will express our willingness to contribute to Lebanon’s reconstruction. The minister delegate will discuss France’s intention to work in close cooperation with the Lebanese government on holding an international conference, mentioned by President Chirac.
Q - Can you give us figures for French humanitarian aid so far? What will France’s contribution be to the reconstruction efforts for Lebanon? The European Commission, for example, has announced an initial package of 42 million euros which it will confirm in Stockholm on Thursday.
As President Chirac announced on July 27, France has provided 15 million euros in emergency humanitarian assistance, of which 8 million was implemented by the Foreign Ministry and 7 million by the Defense Ministry. All these actions were taken in liaison with international organizations and NGOs.
With regard to the reconstruction effort, it will be for Ms Colonna to announce it at the Stockholm conference. She will also discuss the proposed international conference on Lebanon’s reconstruction, which the president referred to in his address to the ambassadors.
Q - Massimo d’Alema said yesterday that the crisis in Lebanese had produced a return to “policy” instead of the force used by Washington vis-à-vis Iraq. He also announced the end of American unilateralism and logic of war which has prevailed since September 11, 2001. Does France agree with the Italian minister’s vision?
You are well aware of the traditional position of France which is deeply committed to the multilateral handling of crises and the role of the UN. The president and foreign minister reaffirmed this again at the ambassadors’ conference.
I refer you to the excerpt from the minister’s speech yesterday in which he draws the lessons of the crisis in Lebanon and the way it was handled.
“Collective action and cohesion in the international community must prevail. No state can meet the challenge of international security alone. No unilateral approach can hope to have sufficient legitimacy. Effectiveness and legitimacy must not be at odds, quite the contrary. This is the reason Security Council action must be central in dealing with crises.”
In April 2004 participants at the Conference of the Heads of State of the Niger Basin Authority and Partners signed the Paris Declaration on the principles of proper management and good governance, and a cooperation framework document ratified by 22 technical and financial partners. A road-map leading to an investment plan was endorsed.
Two years on from this conference, the Niger Basin Authority is entering a phase of decision-making, specifically for major hydroelectric and agricultural projects in Guinea, Mali and Niger, and more generally for all actions involving water from the basin. A sustainable action plan and investment program will be drawn up in 2006-2007.
Since June 2003, France has provided a technical adviser to the NBA and pledged 10.4 million euros in financial support for the 2004-2007 period.
France and Canada wanted an informal meeting of donors to the NBA ahead of the next council of ministers in Niamey on September 14, for the purpose of reviewing the implementation of the Paris road-map in order to prepare for formal intervention by fund donors. This meeting will be held in Paris on September 1 and 2 at the premises of the World Bank.
Q - In the last two days 11 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The death toll now stands at 200. What’s your reaction in the face of Israeli interventions, and your strategy to stop the loss of human lives?
The president, speaking to the ambassadors, called for an early meeting of the Quartet to re-launch the diplomatic process.
The minister yesterday spoke of his “profound concern” over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation in the Palestinian Territories. He called for the aid mechanism for the Palestinians to be implemented without delay. He cited the need to support Mr. Abbas in extending the June 27 document on entente national.
The subject will be discussed Friday at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Q - The Iranian president repeated his refusal to suspend enrichment yesterday. Have there been contacts to re-establish dialogue with Iran? Did Mr. Solana have any contact with the Iranians?
As you know, Mr. Solana has said he was available to meet with the Iranians. I’ve no details about such a meeting and suggest you ask Mr. Solana’s staff.
Q - A prosecutor in Libya has demanded the death penalty for the five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor charged in the case of the HIV-infected children. Do you have any comment?
The request leaves open the outcome of the trial which is due to continue.
France, like all the European Union countries, stands in total solidarity with Bulgaria in this trial. It wishes to see the Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor released.
In addition it is actively participating with its partners in a humanitarian program to raise standards at the hospital in Benghazi and to admit to France several dozen children infected with AIDS.
During his visit to Libya on January 5, the minister met the nurses and doctors , informed them of France’s solidarity and the international efforts to secure their release. During his visit he also met the children being treated and their families./.
Embassy of France, August 30, 2006