Daily press briefing by Ministry Deputy Spokesperson
Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Deputy Spokesperson (excerpts)
(Paris, 7 August 2008)
[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official. (http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr )]
IRAQ
Q. - Any reaction to the Iraqi decision to postpone regional elections?
We took note of that announcement. France calls for all Iraqi political groups and communities to continue the political process in order to achieve national reconciliation. A swift organization of elections could only contribute positively to such a process.
MAURITANIA
Q. - Do you have any comment on the promise by the new military power in Mauritania to respect the rule of law and hold new elections? Are you considering sanctions against that country at the UN, EU or national level?
Yesterday, on behalf of the EU presidency, we condemned the coup by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in Mauritania in the strongest possible terms.
We are demanding the immediate release of the President, Prime Minister and government ministers.
We note that President Abdallahi was elected in March 2007 in free and transparent elections. He is therefore the legitimate president of Mauritania.
We are following the situation very closely. The failure to return to constitutional legality will necessarily have consequences on Mauritania’s relations with her principal partners, including the EU.
[…]
AFGHANISTAN
Q. - Is the deployment of French troops in Uruzgan province part of a specific strategy in that southern region where the Taliban is strongly entrenched? How many men are taking part in the operation?
Every day, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is making an essential contribution to Afghan security, without which civilian reconstruction and development efforts could not take place. That is why France has significantly stepped up her military efforts in recent months, particularly in order to allow the Afghans themselves to take charge of an ever-growing share of their country’s security.
The Defence Minister announced the deployment of French troops to Uruzgan province during the NATO meeting in Noordwijk on 24 October 2007. These are OMLT (Operational Mentor and Liaison Team) instructors embedded with an Afghan army unit to which they provide professional and operational training and mentoring.
This decision is a response to the requirements of allied solidarity and corresponds to our priority of strengthening the Afghan national army so that the Afghans may progressively take charge of their own security. It is key to the country’s stability and reconstruction.
As for the operational aspects of your question, I refer you to the Defence Ministry.
GUANTANAMO
Q. - Do you have any comment on the American military tribunal’s judgment with respect to Salim Ahmed Hamdan, who is being held in Guantanamo?
Second, how does France assess this system of military tribunals and the way it operates, given criticism of the transparency of the procedures and obtaining of evidence and interrogation techniques?
France’s position on the special jurisdiction at Guantanamo is clear and unwavering: the guarantees set forth by international humanitarian law and international agreements on human rights must be applied to all detainees, regardless of their status or nationality.
These guarantees include the right not to be held arbitrarily and to receive a just and fair trial, which is currently not the case.
Furthermore, the 2005 conclusions of the UN commission of inquiry, whose authority with respect to human rights is indisputable, are unambiguous: the detention centre at Guantanamo must be closed, as France and the EU have also demanded on several occasions.
IRAN/NUCLEAR
Q. - Where are you with respect to considerations on the possibility of new sanctions against Iran? Could these be EU sanctions if it isn’t possible to get them passed by the UN?
We are currently consulting with the Six to determine how to respond to the Iranian authorities’ failure to respond and cooperate.
The importance of this issue is marked by the joint position, now being finalized, that would enable the EU to effectively implement UNSCR 1803. This draft could be adopted by the end of the week.
This process should not be confused with the latest contacts between Iran and Mr Solana. Those pertain to the expiration of the deadline of the normal process for implementing UNSCR 1803, which the Security Council adopted on 3 March, on the basis of chapter VII of the UN Charter. It includes sanctions designed to convince Iran to comply with the obligations set forth by the Security Council.
At the same time, the E3+3 wishes to continue its efforts to dialogue with Iran. The door is always open when it comes to launching negotiations. If Iran fails to cooperate, she is choosing to expose herself to new sanctions.
FRANCE/CHINA
Q. - Does France intend to bring up specific cases of dissidents during the President’s visit to Beijing?
On behalf of the EU, the President of the Republic has just given the Chinese authorities a list of individual cases of prisoners and defenders of human rights.
When the President visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 10 July, he promised Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the European deputy and Vice President of the Greens, to mention the cases that would be presented to him.
Apart from the individual cases on the list drawn up by the EU as part of their regular dialogue on human rights with China, the list submitted to the Chinese authorities includes all the cases that Mr Daniel Cohn-Bendit and various human rights organizations would like to see raised./.