MEETING OF NATO FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS
GUINEA-BISSAU
GUINEA
MIDDLE EAST
SUDAN
MEETING OF NATO FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS (BRUSSELS, MARCH 5)
Bernard Kouchner will participate in a meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers at NATO’s Headquarters in Brussels on March 5.
This informal ministerial meeting will be held in order to prepare for the next NATO summit on April 3 and 4 in Strasbourg and Kehl. It will include a session of the North Atlantic Council, and meetings of the NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia Commissions are expected to be held parallel to the ministerial session.
Discussions will principally focus on the preparation of the April 3 and 4 summit that will mark the 60 th anniversary of the Atlantic Alliance.
The ministers are expected to have an initial discussion on the Declaration on Alliance Security to be adopted at the Strasbourg/Kehl Summit. They will also analyze the situation in Afghanistan and evaluate the implementation of the strategy defined in Bucharest.
Finally, NATO-Russia relations will be discussed, following the December 2008 decision to re-engage in dialogue with a “measured and phased” approach. Since then, meetings with Russia, at the level of the Secretary-General and allied ambassadors, have taken place in a constructive atmosphere. The ministers will negotiate the proposed revival of NATO-Russia Council meetings, which France views favorably.
On the occasion of this ministerial session, Bernard Kouchner will have a meeting with the American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
France remains extremely attentive to the situation in Guinea-Bissau.
In accordance with constitutional provisions, the President of the National People’s Assembly, Raimundo Pereira was sworn in as interim President on March 3.
We call on all representatives of Guinea-Bissauan civil society to work to ensure support of constitutional order, in view of the timely organization of free and open presidential elections.
In particular, we call on the new authorities to do everything possible to ensure the protection of individuals who may be threatened as a result of the past few days’ tragic events.
Our embassy in Bissau remains mobilized and attentive to the security of our compatriots, who have encountered no incident thus far.
We have learned of Guinea’s National Council for Democracy and Development’s (CNDD) lifting of the ban on union and political activities. This measure responds to one of the demands expressed by the international community, which was formalized by the International Group of Contact on Guinea (GIC) during its meeting in Conakry on February 16 and 17.
France considers this measure to be a positive sign.
France encourages the CNDD and the government of Prime Minister Kabin é Komara to continue on the path of respecting commitments made to the international community, notably on the occasion of Alain Joyandet’s visit to Conakry on January 3 and 4, and during the GIC meeting.
According to the Canard Encha îné, the Israeli army occupied and ransacked the home of a French consular official during the offensive in Gaza. Do you confirm this? If so, have steps been taken to approach Israeli authorities on the matter?
The house of our consular official, situated in a particularly targeted zone of Gaza, was indeed severely damaged.
We strongly and repeatedly condemned the bombings and destruction committed by the Israeli army during its operation in Gaza.
Due to accessing difficulties and the considerable scope of destruction, we are in the process of analyzing the nature of the damage. Once this evaluation is complete, we will make certain that compensation is received for the damage. We also regularly approach the Israeli authorities regarding the consequences of the bombings in Gaza.
Relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia seem to be warming after the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh. Do you think that this may affect inter-Palestinian dialogue and the achievement of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas? In this instance, do you hope for significant, immediate, and “parallel” progress on the issue of Sgt. Shalit?
As you know, France firmly supports the Egyptian efforts in favor of inter-Palestinian reconciliation. The connection you draw can only contribute to creating a favorable dynamic for such reconciliation, which is indispensable to implementing the various measures of Security Council Resolution 1860 and reviving the peace process.
Regarding Gilad Shalit, France has always called for, and continues to call for, his immediate and unconditional release. We hope that this priority will see timely and positive results, in everyone’s best interest.
Did you receive a letter from Shalit by intermediary of the Vice-President of Hamas’s Political Office?
Should the ICC issue a warrant for the arrest of the Sudanese President, will execution of this decision take precedence over the immunity accorded by French law to acting heads of state? Do you think that the arrest warrant for President al-Bashir will help to resolve the crisis in Darfur?
All states party to the Rome Statute are obligated to implement ICC decisions.
Concerning your second question, let me remind you of our unchanged position: the fight against impunity is inextricably linked to the quest for peace in Darfur./.