Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Spokesperson (Paris, February 2, 2010)

Earthquake in Haiti/ Update on the French effort
“Global Zero” Conference (Paris, February 2-4)
France
/ China


Earthquake in Haiti/ Update on the French effort

1. Evacuations and treatment of the injured

Since January 13, French aircraft have evacuated 1,213 French nationals, 987 Haitians, 37 [non-French] European Union citizens and 57 nationals of other countries, i.e., a total of 2,294 people.  Nearly 200 of them – including 170 Haitians – who were injured, have been evacuated to the French West Indies (96 to Martinique and 102 to Guadeloupe).  Sadly, 25 French nationals were killed and 9 others are reported missing.

The field hospital, operational since January 16, has seen over 1,000 patients, admitted nearly 400 and carried out more than 100 surgical operations. In total, French medical teams in Haiti have seen over 5,600 people.

The French Navy’s landing platform dock [ship] “Sirocco” has an on-board operating theater which is being used to operate on Haitians injured in the earthquake.

2. Support for the people

The French effort is now focused on supporting the people:

- 4 water production units have been installed to meet the needs of 40,000 people a day;
- 1,000 tons of humanitarian aid will be delivered from Martinique and Guadeloupe on February 4 and 18;
- 1,028 French personnel are currently deployed in Haiti (including 364 from the Sécurité civile [emergency services], 540 from the Defense Ministry and 114 gendarmes);
- our personnel and equipment on the ground are being increased to ensure the resumption of our embassy’s activities and contribute to the start of the reconstruction phase.

3. Adoptions

The International Adoption Service (SAI – Service de l’adoption internationale) has done an important job of collecting and collating information from families and bodies authorized to carry out adoptions, liaising with the French Embassy in Port-au-Prince and the Ministry’s crisis center in Paris. To date, 909 families have contacted the SAI regarding 999 children. 418 families have been given decisions on a total of 482 children.

France is dealing with the adoption procedures fully in accordance with its international commitments and Haitian legislation, in the children and families’ interests. The SAI and French Embassy are collecting the necessary paperwork to verify the existence of decisions issued before the earthquake. Already 228 children for whom adoption rulings have been produced have arrived in continental France and 50 others are expected in the next few days.
The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry and French Embassy in Port-au-Prince remain fully mobilized on the situation of the children in Haiti.

What is the situation regarding the French nationals who have asked to remain in Haiti?

No one is forcing them to leave. A number of French nationals have decided to stay. Among the 1,400 French citizens identified, many of whom were registered with our consulate, many have dual nationality, which explains their decision.

In addition, there are French volunteers who have been arriving in Port-au-Prince for three weeks now. We pay tribute to their commitment and devotion.

“Global Zero” Conference (Paris, February 2-4)

Can you give us some details about the “Global Zero” Forum?

Pierre Sellal, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, will give a speech today at the “Global Zero” Conference. We will put the text of his speech on line throughout the course of the day.

Pierre Sellal underlined the need for a concrete and global approach to nuclear disarmament based on practical measures such as stopping the production of fissile material for weapons, halting nuclear tests, dismantling production and testing facilities, reducing nuclear arsenals, in particular, the two largest – Russian and American – as well as establishing confidence-building and transparency measures between the nuclear powers. I don’t need to remind you of France’s position regarding nuclear disarmament. France is of course taking actions to achieve this disarmament at the same time as expressing serious expectations on certain concrete issues, expectations based on what France is doing in this area.

Pierre Sellal reaffirmed France’s exemplary record in this respect and our desire for all the nuclear powers to resolutely commit to following the same path, in order to achieve concrete progress in nuclear disarmament and to work toward our ultimate common objective, which is the strengthening of our collective security.

I want to remind you of France’s record with respect to nuclear disarmament. We have made irreversible decisions that are unmatched by the other nuclear powers. Few nuclear States have agreed to make as much effort. France, along with the United Kingdom, was the first Nuclear Weapon State to ratify, 10 years ago already, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). France is the only State to have dismantled all of its ground-to-ground nuclear missiles. We have reduced our overall arsenal and taken several measures to reduce the operational levels of alert of our nuclear forces so that they are kept at the lowest level possible, in order to maintain deterrence credibility. We ceased production of fissile material in 1992 for plutonium and in 1996 for uranium; we introduced a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons; France was the first State to decide to close and dismantle its installations for producing fissile material for explosive purposes; France is the only State to have dismantled, in a way that was transparent, its nuclear test-sites in the Pacific.

Lastly, I want to remind you that since we are following a process in which France is playing an exemplary role, President Sarkozy stressed his willingness for France to actively contribute to disarmament through concrete measures. He therefore announced some significant measures in Cherbourg in March 2008: a one-third reduction in the number of missiles, aircraft and nuclear warheads in the airborne component, the announcement of the overall limit of our nuclear arsenal (fewer than 300 nuclear weapons) and lastly, an invitation for international experts to come and witness the dismantlement of our former production installations.

One clarification – you said that France is serious about its support for nuclear disarmament. Does that mean that France is in favor of moving towards a world without nuclear weapons?

When I say that we are “serious,” that means our approach is reflected in our exemplary record.

Do you think that a world without nuclear weapons is possible in the future?

That is the objective of the entire international community. We are in favor of nuclear disarmament, without any reservations, and we have been demonstrating this for years. We must take serious, transparent and credible actions and ensure that this approach is as collective as possible.

To sum up, a world without nuclear weapons would be safer than a world with nuclear weapons?

In terms of objectives, France would like to see a global approach to nuclear disarmament, based on concrete measures such as stopping the production of fissile material for weapons, stopping nuclear tests, dismantling production and testing facilities, reducing nuclear arsenals, in particular, the two largest – Russian and American – and the establishment of trust-building measures. We are truly committed and often lead the way with respect to reducing nuclear arsenals, trust-building measures, etc. We share the nuclear disarmament objective established by the Non-Proliferation Treaty; The Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conferencewill begin very soon.

So you are talking about a reduction of arms and not a world without nuclear weapons.

We stress the need for concrete measures. The message we are conveying today is as follows: on the one hand we fully accept the nuclear disarmament objective established by the Non-Proliferation Treaty and in addition we expect concrete progress with respect to nuclear disarmament beyond the discussions. Actions are what we need to look at. That is our message. France has taken action on certain commitments; it was the first country to take action and it is committed to continue working in this direction. Our priority is to take action and to show that we are in a position to take action and decisions on this issue, and to show that, in many respects, we have an exemplary record.

France/ China

What has been planned with respect to the visit by the Chinese Foreign Minister?

We announced the visit by the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry yesterday at the press briefing; the Chinese Foreign Minister will be received tomorrow by Bernard Kouchner for lunch at the Quai d’Orsay. A press briefing is planned.

Mrs. Clinton clearly stated that pressure would be put on China to fall in line with the 5+1 on the Iranian issue, i.e. move towards sanctions and firmness. Is that also France’s approach?

I don’t want to anticipate what the French and Chinese ministers will say tomorrow.

Our concern is to be effective with regard to this issue, and we have spoken with the Americans. Bernard Kouchner also gave his opinion on this topic on Friday during his press briefing with Mrs. Clinton.

I want to reaffirm the two basic elements of our position. The objective is well-known; we have to get out of the situation we find ourselves in today as a result of the lack of clear responses from the Iranians.

We need to maintain the two approaches that have been initiated and continue to work in this direction; in addition, we must all work together. We are talking about this with the Americans and will talk about it with the Chinese tomorrow and with all of our partners during all of our exchanges.

Obviously there may be differences of opinion about the intensity, the pace, etc. but the important thing is to work together and, by remaining united, that is what we are striving for.