Harlem Désir, Minister of State for European Affairs, will take part in the OSCE Ministerial Council in Belgrade from December 3 to 4.

This meeting will provide an opportunity to take stock of progress on resolving the crisis in Ukraine under the political impetus of discussions in the so-called Normandy format, and in particular with respect to OSCE action on the ground.

A panel of experts, chaired by German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, will present to the ministers a report on ways to revive cooperative security in Europe in the context of the crisis in Ukraine.

China – Cooperation with the city of Wuhan on the theme of sustainable cities

Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad, Wan Yong, Mayor of Wuhan, and Michèle Pappalardo, Coordinator of Vivapolis, will today chair, at the Quai d'Orsay, a ceremony to mark the signing of agreements between the Management Committee for French-Chinese Sustainable Cities and six French companies.

These agreements fall within the framework of the French-Chinese Partnership for Sustainable Cities initiated by Martine Aubry, Special Representative for the French-Chinese Economic Partnership.

The project includes the development, in the district of Caidian, of a model French-Chinese eco-district in this city of 10 million people where France has a major economic presence. A steering committee co-chaired by Matthias Fekl and the Mayor of Wuhan will make it possible to approve the submission of an "ecological reference document," a preliminary document that will allow the municipality to issue future calls for tender in this area.

El Salvador – Ratification of the Rome Statute (November 26, 2015)

France welcomes El Salvador's vote on November 26 to accede to the Rome Statute.

We congratulate the Salvadoran authorities on this new step forward in the fight against impunity for those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

France supports the work by the International Criminal Court, the highest permanent, independent international criminal court, and upholds the universality of the Rome Statute. It takes this opportunity to call on those states that have not yet acceded to it to do so promptly.

Argentina

According to Les Echos, the Elliott fund once again seized Argentinian assets in France, including those of the Embassy of Argentina in Paris. The article states that the Quai d'Orsay is following developments "very closely." How do you respond to that?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development is engaging in a regular dialogue with the Argentinian Embassy on this issue, which relates to diplomatic assets – in principle not subject to seizure under international law.

We take note of the ruling by the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance stating that unless Argentina expressly and unequivocally waives the immunity that applies to diplomatic assets, an order should be issued to release the seized assets.