Upgrading the Status of the General Delegation of Palestine in France
North Korea
Iraq / Suicide Attack on Al Arabiya
Venezuela – Colombia
Arms Trade Treaty
Cambodia / Conviction of Duch
Assassination of Michel Germaneau
Upgrading the Status of the General Delegation of Palestine in France / Statement by Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
A little less than three years after the International Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian State, held in Paris on December 17, 2007, the Palestinians—despite numerous constraints and the absence, at this stage, of a political agreement—are laying the groundwork for their State under the leadership of Mr. Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The international community and the European Union in particular have made strong contributions, but the principle merit goes to the Palestinians. They have reorganized their administrations, made their public finances transparent, and have achieved unquestionable results with respect to security and respect for the rule of law, which have been welcomed by the international community.
On July 1, I had the opportunity to reaffirm the following to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad: France supports the creation of a viable, independent, democratic Palestinian State living in peace and security alongside Israel by the first quarter of 2012, in accordance with the objective established by the Quartet in its communiqué of March 19, 2010. To help achieve this objective and guarantee its credibility, our country supports the immediate establishment of the institutions of the future Palestinian State, in line with the spirit of the Paris Conference.
In this context, we considered it timely to move to a new level, in close coordination with the Palestinian National Authority, by upgrading the status of the General Delegation of Palestine in France. This decision, applicable immediately, will have three consequences:
1/ The General Delegation of Palestine will now be called the “Palestinian Mission”
2/ The Palestinian Delegate-General will now be designated the “Palestinian Ambassador, Chief of Mission”
3/ When he arrives at his post, the new “Palestinian Ambassador, Chief of Mission” will bear a letter from the President of the Palestinian Authority that will be presented to President Sarkozy during a presentation of credentials ceremony.
The year 2010 must bring decisive progress on the road to peace. If we wait, we will diminish the chances for peace. The status quo benefits only extremists. The time has come to push aside agendas, resistance to change, and timidity to resolve a conflict whose consequences are not regional but global. France wants to hold a summit reviving the three tracks of the peace process to resolve the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The parties must be encouraged to establish a timetable culminating, before the end of the year, in the signing of an agreement and the creation of a viable, democratic, modern Palestinian State living in peace alongside Israel.
We will continue to mobilize our efforts until the plan for establishing the Palestinian State comes to fruition. The Palestinians must be permitted to exercise their sovereignty within the framework of their State. That is what France, along with its EU partners, is striving for.
Following the recent threatening statements by North Korean leaders, France calls once again on North Korea to refrain from all provocation, to return to the path of international law, to engage in peaceful dialogue, and to return to the negotiating table.
Iraq / Suicide Attack on Al Arabiya
France expresses its deep distress following the suicide attack against the offices of the satellite network Al Arabiya in the center of Baghdad, which left at least four dead and 15 injured.
We condemn this cowardly act in the strongest possible terms and offer our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as the members of the editorial staff of Al Arabiya.
France renews its strong support for the Iraqi authorities and people in their fight against terrorism and their mobilization on behalf of the rule of law and the protection of freedoms.
We reiterate our attachment to the freedom of the press and to the free exercise of journalism. We note that at France’s behest, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1738 in December 2006, which reaffirms to need to prevent acts of violence against journalists and to hold the authors of such violence accountable.
France reiterates its concern following the announcement of Venezuela’s break in diplomatic relations with Colombia.
France supports the efforts of States and regional organizations to restore dialogue and trust between Colombia and Venezuela.
We welcome the special meeting of foreign ministers from the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, in Quito this Thursday to discuss this subject, and we support Brazilian President Lula in his effort to overcome the differences between the two countries.
The first meeting of the committee responsible for preparing the Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), to be held in 2012, has just ended. The adoption of the ATT has just been given a decisive boost in New York.
The ATT’s objective is to regulate international trade in conventional weapons. Its framework principles should be the respect for human rights, international humanitarian law, and economic and social development.
The treaty should lead states-parties to establish:
-national provisions to control arms transfers after examining their suitability on the basis of common criteria
-procedures for bringing charges against traffickers
-procedures for technical cooperation and international mutual legal assistance.
During the meeting of the preparatory committee, all nations—even the most reticent—participated constructively in the work. Many points remain to be elucidated and clarified, but the discussions led to progress on the treaty’s architecture and a certain number of its chapters.
On a national basis, France already rigorously controls its arms exports. Furthermore, like all EU member states, it respects the Code of Conduct in this area, which took the form of a legally binding common position in December 2008, under the French EU Presidency.
As vice president of the preparatory committee this year, France actively supports the process under way, in which it is fully involved. It initiated the organization of regional seminars to raise awareness of the ATT since 2009 on every continent, with EU financing. Last November, the minister of foreign and European affair and his British counterpart published an article in the international press in support of the treaty.
Since the beginning got under way, France has maintained a regular dialogue on the future ATT with its main partners and with NGOs, who have a crucial role to play, as well as with arms manufacturers. The Arms Trade Treaty will be discussed during the UN General Assembly this fall before the second preparatory committee resumes work in 2011.
The Khmer Rouge Tribunal has just handed down its verdict in the first trial against the authors of crimes perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge. Kaing Gaek Eav, alias Duch, who headed the S-21 detention center, was found guilty of crimes against humanity and condemned to 30 years in prison.
This decision ends the long wait by families of the victims.
France, which has always stood by the Cambodian people, has relentlessly supported those who refused to see Khmer Rouge crimes go unpunished and is pleased that justice was served.
France welcomes the efforts of the Tribunal and its Cambodian and international staff. France supported the Tribunal both when it was established and in the course of its work, notably by allocating 4 million euros in aid between 2005 and 2010.
France will also continue to support the plaintiffs and their attorneys, as it has done in the past.
France is aware of the importance of this process for the Cambodian people and for international justice. No crime should go unpunished.
Assassination of Michel Germaneau
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At President Sarkozy’s request, Bernard Kouchner is traveling today to Mauritania, Mali and Niger, where he will meet with the authorities of each of these three countries, as well as our compatriots residing or present there.
During this trip, the minister will discuss, on a priority basis, the security of our communities and the appropriate measures taken in conjunction with local authorities to strengthen it.
As you know, we are constantly updating our caution and security recommendations on the travel advisory page (Conseils aux Voyageurs) of the Ministry website, France-Diplomatie.
Here in Paris, the ministry’s crisis centers are in ongoing contact with all of our concerned partners (companies, NGOs, travel agencies) operating on the ground./.