Pakistan / Attack on Peshawar
UNESCO
Iran
Pakistan / Attack on Peshawar
We were deeply shocked to learn of another terrorist attack, on June 9, 2009, hitting the city of Peshawar injuring and killing many people, including two United Nations employees working for the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF.
France utterly condemns this new terrorist attack targeting the city and inhabitants of Peshawar and reaffirms her determination to help the Pakistani government in its battle against terrorism. Such heinous acts can only cause outrage and be unreservedly condemned.
In these tragic circumstances, France extends its condolences to the Pakistani government and people, the victims’ families and close friends, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNICEF and the United Nations Secretary-General and all UN personnel. It assures them of its total solidarity at this painful time.
France pays tribute to the United Nations institutions and their officials who, often at risk of their lives, carry out their essential mission of promoting peace and development.
Will the Egyptian candidate for the top position at UNESCO, Culture Minister, Farouk Hosny, who arrives in Paris on Wednesday, be received at the ministry, and, if so, at what level? Has France’s position with regard to his candidacy changed?
There is no plan to receive Farouk Hosny at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs during this visit to Paris.
With regard to our position, UNESCO is of major importance to France, in particular because its headquarters are in France, and due to the key role that it plays in promoting and protecting cultural diversity.
France is therefore carefully monitoring the process which should result in the election of the new Director General of UNESCO next September.
Nine candidates have been officially announced, including Farouk Hosny, who often visits Paris as part of his campaign, and who came, in particular, in March for the launch of the Aladdin project by the Foundation for the M emory of the Holocaust and in April for UNESCO’s Executive Board meeting.
Of course we believe that it is essential that all candidates for this position fully adhere to the fundamental principles embodied in UNESCO’s constitution, particularly those relating to tolerance and the respect for cultural diversity.
When is Javier Solana supposed to hold talks with Iran? Has a visit been planned in response to the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister’s visit to Paris?
We do not have any information on the date of the next meeting between Javier Solana and the Iranian negotiator Said Jalili. Their teams are in regular contact.
With regard to your second question, a bilateral visit to Iran is not planned.