European Union/ Syria
Iran
Djibouti
Islamic headscarf/ burka
European Union/ Syria
Can you confirm that the association agreement between the European Union and Syria will be accompanied by a separate “political declaration” from the European States or an amendment that goes in this direction?
The ministers should confirm their support for the signing of the association agreement with Syria at the next General Affairs and External Relations Council.
As far as I know, this agreement has not been modified compared to the version signed by the Syrian authorities last December.
What is your reaction to Sergei Ryabkov, the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who stated that, from Moscow’s point of view, it is not the right time to focus on sanctions against Iran, since negotiations on its nuclear program are in progress? Are the Six now resolutely using an approach based on dialogue with Iran, and the sanctions-based approach has been pushed aside?
The October 1 meeting in Geneva made it possible to renew relations between the Six and Iran; these relations had been suspended for14 months. The meeting allowed exchanges on the Iranian nuclear program to take place. We will meet again in October.
We are expecting concrete gestures by December in response to the international community’s concerns. In particular, we are expecting a response from Iran concerning the Six’s proposal based on the “double freeze” principle, i.e. the suspension of sensitive activities and the simultaneous opening of negotiations with a short period of discussions during which the Iranians would not continue with their sensitive nuclear activities and the Six would not seek to adopt new Security Council sanctions.
If Iran does not respond with a concrete gesture to our concerns, we will have no other choice than to seek the adoption of further sanctions, in accordance with the two-pronged approach continually promoted by the Six.
Can you confirm that the President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh will visit Paris on Wednesday next week and that this visit will include meetings with the French authorities?
As far as I know, the president of the Republic of Djibouti will be in Paris to take part in the UNESCO General Conference.
Has Joseph Maïla, the head of the Quai d’Orsay’s Religion Office, provided French diplomats with a line of reasoning on France’s position on the Islamic headscarf and burka in response to questions from foreign governments? What is this line of reasoning?
The Religion Office was established within the Policy Planning Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs at Bernard Kouchner’s request in order to ensure that religion is more effectively taken into account as a factor that determines international relations. The Office is in fact led by Joseph Maïla.
Mr. Maïla was notably involved in our actions to provide public opinion and foreign governments with an explanation of our legislation on the wearing of religious symbols and the parliamentary debate that is in progress regarding the wearing of the burka.