• Development – Climate - French Development Agency's 2014 results (Paris, March 17, 2015)
• Chile – Meeting between Mr. Laurent Fabius and his counterpart (Paris, March 18, 2015)
• Mali – United Nations – Helicopter accident (March 17, 2015)
• Kenya – Terrorist attacks
Development – Climate - French Development Agency's 2014 results (Paris, March 17, 2015)
On March 17, Mr. Laurent Fabius received Ms. Anne Paugam, Chief Executive Officer of the French Development Agency (AFD), who presented AFD’s 2014 results to him.
AFD, which operates in more than 90 countries and in the French overseas departments, increased its level of activity by committing €8.1 billion in 2014 to a broad range of areas, from school enrolment to housing, access to water, support for family farms and crisis resolution. AFD was also actively involved in the fight against the Ebola virus.
As Mr. Laurent Fabius had hoped, the agency also significantly increased its contribution to the fight against climate disruption, which accounted for 53% of its financing for developing countries and 30% of the financing provided by PROPARCO, its private sector investment arm.
AFD also issued its first “climate bonds,” with a value of €1 billion and a 10-year maturity, in order to finance projects that contribute to the fight against climate disruption. This innovative mechanism is an incentive to ensure that international finance is more effectively channeled toward climate-friendly investments.
Chile – Meeting between Mr. Laurent Fabius and his counterpart (Paris, March 18, 2015)
Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, will receive his Chilean counterpart, Mr. Heraldo Muñoz, this evening.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to review all aspects of our bilateral relations in the run-up to President Michèle Bachelet’s official visit to France, scheduled to take place on June 8 and 9.
Mr. Laurent Fabius will discuss preparations for the 2015 Paris Climate Conference with Mr. Muñoz, whose country currently holds the presidency of the Association of Independent Latin American and Caribbean states (AILAC). The two ministers will also work on strengthening our economic relations in the infrastructure, transport, and renewable energy sectors as well as on developing our academic and scientific cooperation.
Mali – United Nations – Helicopter accident (March 17, 2015)
France extends its condolences to the families of the victims of the helicopter accident on March 17 in Gao, which killed two Dutch soldiers working for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
We assure the Dutch authorities and all members of MINUSMA of our solidarity.
France pays tribute to the resolute action of the United Nations and the states that contribute to this action, as well as the efforts of Mr. Mongi Hamdi, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Mali.
France condemns the attacks carried out in recent days by the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab in the towns of Mandera and Wajir in north-eastern Kenya. The attacks killed 7 civilians and injured 11 other people.
We extend our condolences to the victims’ families.
France stands alongside the Kenyan authorities and people in the fight against terrorism.