Official speeches and statements - April 5, 2022

1. Germany - Visit by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs - Statement by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, 05/04/2022)

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs is visiting Berlin today.

Together with his German colleague Ms Annalena Baerbock and his Romanian colleague Mr Bogdan Aurescu, he is co-chairing a Moldova Support Conference in the presence of Ms Natalia Gavrilița, Moldova’s Prime Minister, and Mr Nicu Popescu, its Foreign Minister. The conference will provide an opportunity to step up the international assistance provided to that country - which is suffering the consequences of the war in Ukraine -, building on the efforts started bilaterally with Moldova and the Minister’s visit there on 3 March.

The Minister will have a discussion with his German colleague. Building on their meeting of 31 March, they will discuss the war situation in Ukraine and preparations for the meetings of foreign ministers from NATO on 6 and 7 April and from the EU on 11 April. The Minister will speak of the need to adopt tough sanctions against Russia in the coming days, in response to the mass atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine reported in recent days.

Finally, on the sidelines of the Moldova Support Conference, the Minister will for the first time hold a working meeting with the foreign ministers of the Nordic Council of Ministers (Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland), on the invitation of the Norwegian presidency. It will be devoted to the war situation in Ukraine and the challenges for the next diplomatic meetings of NATO and the EU./.

2. Russia - Expulsion of diplomats - Statement by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, 04/04/2022)

France has decided this evening to expel numerous Russian staff members posted to France with diplomatic status whose activities are contrary to our security interests.

The action is part of a European initiative.

Our first responsibility is always to ensure the security of French and European people./.

3. Mali - France is gravely concerned by reports of large-scale abuses in central Mali - Press briefing by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (excerpt) (Paris, 04/04/2022)

France is gravely concerned by reports of large-scale abuses in the village of Moura by members of the Malian armed forces accompanied by Russian mercenaries belonging to the Wagner Group. These abuses reportedly took hundreds of civilian lives.

France offers its condolences to the victims’ families and calls for the prompt launch of national and international investigations in order to assign responsibility for these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.

France is concerned by the increasing number of abuses that have taken place in central Mali since the start of 2022 and the impunity with which they are carried out. We call on the Malian authorities to take the necessary measures to stem this violence. We would like to see MINUSMA use all means at its disposal to shed light on these events and help protect civilians, in accordance with its mandate.

The fight against active terrorist groups in the Sahel must never under any circumstances justify human rights violations. Indiscriminate violence against civilians will only serve to strengthen these groups./.