I welcome the unanimous adoption of UNSCR 2292.

The international community spoke with one voice on the situation in Libya. This resolution, which is a joint initiative of the three European members of the Security Council (Spain, France and the UK), has three goals:

• to implement, in a credible and effective manner, the embargo on arms from and to Libya, notably by inspecting vessels on the high seas that may be involved in the trafficking of arms;
• to reaffirm our support for the Government of National Accord, which has the option of submitting arms embargo exemption requests;
• to support the efforts of the EU, which expanded the mandate of EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia to allow it to play a full role in the implementation of this embargo.

Germany – Visit by Jean-Marc Ayrault to Brandenburg together with Frank-Walter Steinmeier (June 15, 2016)

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, will meet with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on Wednesday, June 15 in Brandenburg an der Havel.

They will take stock of key current international and European issues and the strengthening of French-German cooperation.

This meeting will provide an opportunity to extend the work of the two ministers in Celle Saint-Cloud on April 5 and in Berlin on May 11 and to continue the work initiated during the joint visits by Mr. Ayrault and Mr. Steinmeier to Kiev on February 22, to Tripoli on April 16 and to Mali and Niger from May 1 to 3.

Germany – Meeting between Harlem Désir and Beate Merk, Bavarian Minister for European Affairs (Paris - June 15, 2016)

Harlem Désir, Minister of State for European Affairs and Secretary-General for French-German Cooperation, met with Beate Merk, Bavarian Minister for European Affairs and International Relations, on June 15.

They will take stock of key current European issues and our cooperation.

The signing in 2015 of a Memorandum of Understanding by the French prime minister and the minister-president of Bavaria led to the development of new joint projects, notably in the energy, digital, vocational training, research and innovation spheres.

Romania, Moldova – Visit by Harlem Désir (June 16-17, 2016)

Minister of State for European Affairs Harlem Désir will be in Bucharest on June 15-16 for meetings with Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu and his counterpart, Cristian Badescu.

Coming in the wake of Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș's visit to Paris, this trip—during which major European issues will be discussed—underscores the dynamism of our bilateral relationship.

Mr. Désir and Mr. Comanescu will subsequently travel together to Chișinău on behalf of the French-Romanian co-presidency of the European Action Group for the Republic of Moldova, which works to strengthen that country's rapprochement with the EU. There they will meet with President Nicolae Timofti, Prime Minister Pavel Filip, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Galbur, and Speaker of the Parliament Andrian Candu. Mr. Désir and Mr. Comanescu will encourage their interlocutors to accelerate the implementation of the reforms set forth by the association agreement with the EU, particularly with respect to strengthening the rule of law and economic modernization. They will also meet with representatives of Moldovan political parties and civil society.

Russia / Ukraine – Release of two prisoners (June 14, 2016)

We welcome the release, on June 14, of Yury Soloshenko and Gennady Afanasyev, and their return to Ukrainian soil.

This is an important step toward the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement, which must occur as swiftly as possible.

France and Germany are working within the Normandy Format to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. We urge the parties to continue all their prisoner exchanges, with those in the most vulnerable situations taking priority.

Bahrain – Suspension of the al-Wefaq party's activities (June 14, 2016)

France deplores the shut-down of the headquarters of the political organization al-Wefaq and the suspension of its activities.

We urge the authorities of Bahrain to reverse this decision and to guarantee and protect democratic expression in the kingdom.

Only the resumption of a broad dialogue, in respect of human rights and the rule of law, will promote national reconciliation and guarantee the long-term easing of tensions.

United Nations – Election of the president of the 71th session of the UN General Assembly (June 13, 2016)

France congratulates Fiji's permanent representative, Peter Thomson, on his election to the presidency of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, which will begin on September 21.

We are delighted by the prospect of working closely with Mr. Thomson on all the issues the General Assembly deals with, particularly the implementation of Agenda 2030 on sustainable development and the fight against climate disruption in the aftermath of the Paris Agreement.

Ethiopia / Eritrea

What is your response to the fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea?

France is concerned by the deteriorating situation on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

We call on Ethiopia and Eritrea to show restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue. That would help strengthen the overall situation in the Horn of Africa.