Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, will receive the representatives of the group of like-minded countries, his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, his American counterpart, John Kerry, his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, as well as representatives of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Jordan and Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on December 10, 2016, at 8:30 am at the Quai d'Orsay for a ministerial meeting on Syria.

Dr. Riyad Hijab, General Coordinator of the High Negotiations Committee of the Syrian opposition, and Brita Hagi Hasan, Aleppo city council president will meet with the participants.

The meeting will be co-chaired by Jean-Marc Ayrault and his Qatari and German counterparts.

The latest developments make the international community's mobilization more necessary than ever.

The minister and his guests will discuss the tragic humanitarian situation in Aleppo and the urgent response needed by the international community.

They will also discuss the strategy to be adopted following Daesh's retreat in order ensure the successful governance and stabilization of the liberated territories.

Lastly, they will take stock of efforts to resolve this crisis which has dragged on for too long. One year after it was launched, the Vienna process has stalled and it is imperative that we continue our collective efforts to find a political solution.

European Union – Jean-Marc Ayrault's participation in the Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels - December 12, 2016)

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, will take part in the Foreign Affairs Council on December 12.

The discussions will principally focus on:

• Syria and the fight against Daesh: The discussions will focus on the tragic humanitarian situation in Aleppo and on how the EU can support Staffan de Mistura's efforts to find a political solution to the crisis; Jean-Marc Ayrault will present the results of the meeting of the group of like-minded countries to be held in Paris on December 10.
• Migration: The discussions will focus in particular on the new migration pacts with the five priority countries of Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal in preparation for the European Council on December 15;
• Strategic relations between the EU and Africa. Certain aspects of the relationship between the EU and Africa should be examined in greater depth, including with respect to the fight against terrorism, trafficking and illegal migration, as well as with respect to joint initiatives in the economic field and in support of young people;
• The Democratic Republic of Congo: The ministers will take stock of developments in the situation as President Kabila's term in office draws to a close (December 19), they will express their support for the efforts to promote political dialogue and will send a message of firmness regarding respect for the Congolese constitution, the rule of law and human rights;
• North Korea: the minister will underscore the seriousness and dangerous nature of the behavior of the regime, which is continuing to conduct nuclear and ballistic tests.

On the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council, the ministers will sign:

• the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Cuba aimed at revitalizing relations between the EU and this country;
• an agreement on the establishment of a trust fund in Colombia to support the peace process with the FARC, to which France will contribute.

United Nations – International Human Rights Day (December 10, 2016)

On this anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, France reiterates its resolute and unwavering commitment to upholding fundamental rights worldwide.

France works relentlessly to defend the universality and effective observance of human rights. The fight for these rights is one of the founding principles of the French Republic and one of its foreign policy priorities.

France is committed to the universal abolition of the death penalty, to the fight against impunity, to the fight against torture, arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances, to the fight against discrimination and violence against women, to the protection of children's rights, and to the fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

On this symbolic day, France pays tribute to all those, individuals and associations, who fight on a daily basis for the respect of the fundamental rights of all, often at the risk of their own safety, freedom, and sometimes even their lives.

On December 15, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Jean-Marc Ayrault will present the Human Rights Prize of the French Republic, organized by the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, to associations that have particularly distinguished themselves by their efforts to promote and protect human rights.

South Africa / Cooperation – Science Diplomacy Award (December 8, 2016)

Today Naledi Pandor, South Africa's minister of science and technology, is presenting the Science Diplomacy Award to the French South African Institute of Technology (F'SATI) in recognition of the international partnerships that have contributed to the country's human capital development.

Established in 1996 by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris and the Technikon Pretoria, following former President Nelson Mandela's visit to France, the F'SATI is a training institute for research and innovation in the engineering of information technologies, and is co-directed by French and South African partners. This program receives support from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development and from the South African Department of Science and Technology. Its successes include the first South African and African nano-satellite program (ZACUBE-1), launched in November 2013.

Now established at two South African universities in Pretoria (Tshwane University of Technology) and Cape Town (Cape Peninsula University of Technology),the Institute offers excellent Masters and Doctorate degree programs in scientific and technological fields. Training is provided in partnership with ESIEE Paris, the engineering school of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Paris-Ile-de-France region, and Université Paris-Est-Créteil, with the participation of the universities of Versailles-Saint-Quentin and Montpellier.

For more information, visit http://www.ambafrance-rsa.org/F-SATI-Institut-de-Technologie.