Haiti
France/ Palestinian Territories/ Visit by Mahmoud Abbas on September 27, 2010
Sahel region
Haiti
Bernard Kouchner will visit Haiti on Saturday, September 25, and Sunday, September 26. This visit, which is taking place a little over 7 months since President Sarkozy’s visit, will allow us to renew France’s active solidarity with this country. The minister’s third visit to Haiti in a year will also provide an opportunity to evaluate the aid implemented by France.
During a meeting with President René Préval, the minister will have the opportunity to assure the Haitian authorities of France’s continued action and solidarity in support of reconstruction. The commitments taken by President Sarkozy have been met and implemented on the ground: assistance for reestablishing the capacities of the Haitian State, assistance for relaunching the education system, and major projects in the health sector in particular.
The minister will go the University Hospital of the State of Haiti which was severely damaged by the earthquake. Together with the Haitian Minister of Health and the U.S. Ambassador, Bernard Kouchner will inaugurate the rehabilitation and reconstruction work of the main hospital in Port-au-Prince. This $50 million project will be carried out in partnership with the Haitians and the Americans. On September 20 in New York, the minister signed with Mrs. Clinton a partnership agreement for the reconstruction of this hospital.
During a working meeting with Ronald Baudin, Haitian Minister of Economy and Finance, Bernard Kouchner will sign an agreement for the payment of the second portion of the €20 million in French budgetary aid for 2010. A payment of €5 million in direct budgetary aid was made in April. A further 20 million is planned for 2011.
With a view toward the presidential and parliamentary elections which will take place on November 28, Bernard Kouchner will reaffirm France’s support for the OAS/CARICOM Electoral Observation Mission (financial support and provision of 15 observers). These elections must be free, transparent and fair.
The minister will meet representatives of the French community and will bestow the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs’ medal on the French Embassy officials who have demonstrated exemplary dedication to duty since the disaster in the presence of a detachment of French gendarmes from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. In addition, the minister will inaugurate the new Institut français buildings in Port-au-Prince.
Lastly, Bernard Kouchner will have the opportunity to meet with the main French NGOs present in Haiti during a working dinner.
France/ Palestinian Territories/ Visit by Mahmoud Abbas on September 27, 2010
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority will be received in France on September 27.
President Sarkozy will receive him at the Elysée for a working lunch. Mahmoud Abbas will then have a meeting with the Prime Minister.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Bernard Kouchner had the opportunity to meet with Mahmoud Abbas this week.
These exchanges come at a decisive moment in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process which has been relaunched through direct negotiations and will allow us to reflect together on how France and the European Union can continue to contribute to resolving the conflict and to the creation of a viable Palestinian State, living in peace and security alongside Israel.
The minister stated several times that it is highly likely that there will be a compromise regarding the extension of the settlement freeze in the occupied territories. What ideas are you proposing? Are you in contact with the various parties?
Our position on the need to extend this moratorium is well known, as is our position on settlement activity. The Quartet met this week in New York and issued an important statement on this issue; France supports this statement.
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Is there anything new regarding the situation of the hostages kidnapped in Niger?
All government departments are fully mobilized, in Paris as they are in Niamey, to try and secure their release.
Why isn’t Pierre Lellouche representing the Quai d’Orsay at the Defense Council?
The Quai d’Orsay is represented at these meetings by the Minister’s Cabinet Director.
The Quai d’Orsay apparently asked the chairman of Areva not to speak publicly about the hostages. Is that correct?
The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs did not ask the chairman of Areva not to speak publicly.
Are there any particular recommendations for the French community in Niger following the kidnapping, since we’ve recently seen footage of French citizens exercising discretion in Niamey and the other major cities? Do the recommendations currently apply to the cities and no longer just to the “danger zone”? Do you think that the cities are unsafe?
Secondly, do you have any proof of life? Since Hervé Morin asked the kidnappers to come forward, have you received any claim of responsibility?
Concerning the French community in Niger, we provide them with security advice, as we do in all the countries where there are dangerous areas. We advise all French citizens who find themselves in the “danger zone” to immediately return to the safe areas. That is always our policy. This applies to Niger as it does to everywhere where there are “danger zones.” The French community in Niger, whether in Niamey or elsewhere, is being regularly informed of the security conditions and we pass on recommendations when necessary.
I already had the opportunity to say that we had not received any proof of life but we had good reason to think that the hostages were alive.