Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is visiting Berlin today to meet with his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, for a working lunch.

The two ministers will discuss the revitalization of the EU and key international issues, on the basis of the meeting between the president and the chancellor and regarding which France and Germany closely cooperate, especially with respect to the situation in Mali and Syria. The NATO summit scheduled to take place on May 25 will also be discussed.

By making Berlin his first bilateral visit since taking office, Jean- Yves Le Drian aims to demonstrate France's attachment to French-German relations.

North Korea – Missile launch (May 21, 2017)

France condemns the repeated violations of the UN Security Council resolutions by North Korea and the announcement of a new missile launch, which the country conducted on May 21.

By continuing its illegal nuclear and ballistic program, North Korea is violating the nuclear non-proliferation regime and posing a serious threat to stability in northeast Asia and international security.

France stands alongside its partners in the region and reaffirms the goal of achieving the complete, irreversible, and verifiable abandonment by North Korea of its nuclear and ballistic program and weapons.

France, which is convinced of the urgency of the situation, calls on the Security Council, which is due to meet on Tuesday, to respond in a prompt, firm and resolute manner.

Syria – France

Is France considering reopening its embassy in Damascus?

The reopening of our embassy in Damascus is not on the agenda.

Libya

The head of the UNHCR denounced the appalling conditions facing migrants in Libya and called for the release of the refugees and asylum seekers being held in detention centers. Does Paris plan to exert pressure on the Libyan authorities?

France calls on the Libyan authorities to do everything possible to ensure that the migrants are treated with dignity. A political solution in Libya aimed at strengthening Libya's national institutions would help ensure that the protection of human rights and the fight against organized crime is a priority.

Egypt / Archeology – French Archeology Day (May 21, 2017)

The Institut français d’archéologie orientale (French Institute for Oriental Archeology - IFAO) and Institut français d'Egypte (French Institute of Egypt - IFE) hosted French Archeology Day in Egypt on May 21. The event was attended by the Egyptian Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Enany.

Representatives of French archeological projects in Egypt presented their work to the public to showcase the diversity and richness of the work carried out by French-Egyptian teams.

France is one of Egypt's major archeological partners. More than 30 groups are working on different excavation and restoration sites nationwide.

The following people participated in the day's events:

• Marie-Dominique Nenna, director of the Centre d'Etudes Alexandrines;
• Christophe Thiers, director of the Centre Franco-Egyptien d'Etude des Temples de Karnak;
• Christian Leblanc, director of the Western Thebes mission;
• Pascale Ballet, director of the Bouto mission;
• Claire Somaglino, co-director of the Ain Sokhna mission;
• Laurent Bavay, director of the IFAO.