Russia / Wildfires
Sudan / Renewal of UNAMID mandate
Pakistan
United States / Middle East peace process
United States / Iran
Japan
Russia / Wildfires
France is shocked by the extent of the wildfires affecting central Russia and their heavy human toll. It offers its sincere condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones.
France expresses its total solidarity with the Russian people and authorities, and stands by their side in this painful ordeal. It is ready to examine any request for assistance that it might receive.
Firing of rockets on the Israeli and Jordanian cities of Eilat and Aqaba
France firmly condemns the firing, early this morning, of four rockets targeting the cities of Eilat in Israel and Aqaba in Jordan.
The Kingdom of Jordan, which has suffered one death and three people injured, and the State of Israel are victims of these cowardly attacks, and we assure them of our sympathy and support.
Sudan / Renewal of UNAMID mandate
France welcomes the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1935, which renews the mandate of the joint UN and African Union mission in Darfur.
The resolution stresses that the protection of civilians and support for the delivery of humanitarian aid are the Security Council’s two key priorities for UNAMID. France offers support for UNAMID’s efforts to fully exercise its mandate. It calls in particular on Sudan’s government to remove all obstacles to the force’s free movement in accordance with the terms of the resolution.
France also expresses its concern following the latest incidents in the camps of Kalma and Hamadiya. It calls on all the parties to immediately restore calm and reiterates its support for the Doha process in order to achieve a political solution that will guarantee peace and stability in Darfur.
Does France, which is welcoming Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, share the British government’s concerns on the “export of terror” to India and Afghanistan from Pakistan, whose intelligence service, the ISA, is suspected of helping the Taliban?
The regional situation, notably with regard to questions of security and the fight against terrorism, is an essential challenge that we regularly discuss with the Pakistani authorities.
This issue will be on the agenda of the President Zardari’s meetings in France.
United States / Middle East peace process
U.S. President Barack Obama is said to have warned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that any refusal to resume direct talks with Israel could be harmful to Palestinian-American relations. Does France share the American position?
France welcomed the Arab Peace Initiative follow-up committee’s support for engaging in direct talks.
As we indicated in the communiqué issued by President Sarkozy’s office following his discussions with Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu, we encourage all the parties to immediately engage in these talks, which are in the interest of both the Palestinian and Israeli people, in order to arrive at a just and fair peace. It is this context that President Sarkozy also called for extending the moratorium on settlements and halting measures that affect the balance in Jerusalem.
Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Sunday that the U.S. has formulated a plan of attack against Iran and would implement it if necessary. Do you have any comment?
France and its E3+3 partners are relentlessly striving for a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. It is a two-pronged approach combining dialogue and pressure, and it is the purpose of UNSCR 1929, which strengthens sanctions against the Iranian authorities while reiterating the international community’s offers of dialogue.
According to the Japanese press, France will take part in the commemorations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. If so, why, and who will represent it?
Consulting closely with the United States and the United Kingdom, France has decided to take part in the peace ceremonies being held in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9. It will be represented by its Chargé d’Affaires. This is the first time France is taking part in this event, which is organized annually by the mayors of both cities.
France, which has an excellent record when it comes to nuclear disarmament, has developed very strong ties with the municipalities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, notably through regularly visits by the French Ambassador in Japan.
It is joining in the events both to remember all the victims of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to reaffirm its resolve to forge a more secure international environment making it possible to meet all the objectives established by the NPT, notably with regard to nuclear disarmament.