France/ Russia/ Germany
North Korea/ Syria/ Lebanon
France/ Brazil/ Iran/ Nuclear
France/ Russia/ Germany
Can you confirm that, as “Le Monde” is claiming, France is trying to achieve the imminent adoption of a joint statement by France, Russia and Germany regarding a “Common European Space,” to take into account President Dmitri Medvedev’s positive attitude towards Europe, but that it was still coming up against a certain level of reticence, in particular from Germany?
In October 2008 in Evian, then at the EU-Russia Summit in Nice in November 2008, and most recently on March 1, 2010, during President Medvedev’s State visit, President Sarkozy underlined the importance of dialogue on the issues of European security with Russia within a framework that would bring together all of the pan-European security stakeholders, which would be based on our values, including human rights, and would not undermine transatlantic ties.
On this basis, the 56 Member States of the OSCE - the only organization that brings together on an equal footing all of the European States and the United States and Canada – launched, in Corfu in June 2009, a process of reflection on the future of European security.
The Kazakh presidency of the OSCE is due to present a progress report on this process at the end of June. This will be discussed by the ministers at the informal ministerial meeting of the OSCE which will take place on July 16 and 17 in Almaty in Kazakhstan and will lay the groundwork for convening an OSCE summit at the end of 2010.
Russia’s unilateral decision to suspend, from December 12, 2007, its application of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (FCE) deprived the treaty of most of its effectiveness. However, the mechanisms set forth in this Treaty (exchange of information, notifications, verifications) remain completely relevant. Like all the allied countries, we want to maintain the level of transparency and trust that has existed due to the FCE Treaty since the end of the Cold War, as well as the other measures of trust and security in Europe. No solution is conceivable, whether it relates to the prevention of conflicts or conventional arms control, without the cooperation of all countries concerned.
That’s why, in these areas as in other issues of security, France maintains regular dialogue with Russia, on a bilateral basis and in cooperation with its European Union, NATO and OSCE partners.
Are you concerned about the potential supply of weapons of mass destruction by North Korea to Syria, which would then be destined for Hamas and Hezbollah, as asserted by the Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman?
We have already had an opportunity to express our views on North Korea’s proliferation activities and the concerns that they are prompting.
Concerning the second part of your question, we have already called for the implementation of all aspects of UNSCR 1701. I want to remind you that this resolution imposes, among other things, an embargo on all weapons to Lebanon except for those authorized by the government.
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Would France’s support for Brazil’s mediation with Iran include a proposal regarding the location for the exchange of uranium that Iran is calling for?
Bernard Kouchner expressed France’s full support for President Lula da Silva’s initiative aimed at urging Iran to comply fully with its international obligations.
We maintain close contact with our Brazilian partners and hope that their efforts in this direction can succeed.
The Iranians are perfectly aware of the terms of the offer regarding the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) issued in October by the Director General of the IAEA, to which they have as yet not given a positive response, while continuing their enrichment activities in violation of their international obligations.