Daily press briefing by Ministry Spokesperson

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE BOMB ATTACK IN TRIPOLI, LEBANON

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union strongly condemns the bomb attack in Tripoli this morning that killed at least a dozen people and injured many others.

It conveys its condolences to the victims’ families and expresses its solidarity at this difficult time with the Lebanese people and their country’s legitimate authorities and army, which was the target of this recent attack.

Everything must be done to investigate this terrorist act. The Presidency of the Council of the European Union reaffirms its commitment to Lebanon and to all the Lebanese in their fight against terrorism.

Nothing should be allowed to hamper the crisis solution process initiated by the Doha Agreement, which reached a new milestone yesterday with the adoption of the general policy statement by the parliament.

We will continue to give our fullest support to the efforts undertaken to further security and unity in Lebanon, which are essential to the region’s stability.

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON LEBANON

Yesterday the Lebanese parliament approved the general policy statement adopted by the Lebanese government last week.

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union welcomes this step that completes the formation of a national unity government and is indispensable to the implementation of government policy.

The Presidency remains attentive to further implementation of the Doha Agreement with the opening of national dialogue and the adoption of an electoral law.

DECLARATION BY THE PRESIDENCY ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON MAURITANIA

The European Union renews in the strongest terms its condemnation of the coup that took place in Mauritania on 6 August 2008. It considers the emergency measures taken by the military leaders who seized power, measures confirmed by the Order of 11 August 2008 - in particular relieving the President of the Republic of his duties - to be completely unlawful.

The European Union warns the military junta of the serious risk of the country’s long-term isolation in the international arena.

It urges the junta to restore the institutional framework that existed before 6 August and calls on it to cooperate immediately with the international community to that end. It renews its support for the efforts made along that path by the African Union in particular.

The European Union stands ready to contribute to a solution for the current institutional crisis through dialogue.

GEORGIA

The Airbus A-340 that left Tbilisi on 12 August arrived at Roissy Airport on 13 August, completing its second round trip. Aboard the aircraft were 202 French and foreign passengers who had been stranded in Tbilisi by the interruption of commercial flights.

An official presidential flight also transported 37 people to Paris this morning.

The total number of people whose return to France was facilitated by the French authorities is 474. That number includes 315 French nationals, 71 Georgians, 17 Spaniards, 16 Belgians, 14 Italians, 11 Dutch, 6 New Zealanders, 4 Germans, 3 Austrians, 3 Britons, 3 Mauritians, 2 Russians, 2 Trinidadians, 1 Algerian, 1 American, 1 Belorussian, 1 Dane, 1 Japanese, 1 Norwegian and 1 Swiss national.

French humanitarian aid has been stepped up for all the victims of the crisis. A DC-10 cargo plane was chartered by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. It will carry 60 tonnes of emergency relief supplies (tents, cots, blankets and staple goods) to Tbilisi along with medical supplies. This shipment, assembled from Ministry and Civil Protection Service stocks, also includes a contribution from the French Red Cross for the ICRC teams deployed on the ground.

This third flight will take off at 2.30 a.m. on 14 August from Vatry airport.

Q. - What is your opinion of the trips to Georgia made by the heads of State or government of Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic States at the same time as M. Sarkozy’s visit? Do you consider their trips to be helpful in resolving the conflict or to be a hindrance, given that they have clearly taken a stand in favour of Georgia and against Russia? Has M. Sarkozy had any contact with the leaders of those countries?

The President addressed this subject during his press conferences in Moscow and Tbilisi. He underscored our European partners’ support for our efforts to broker an agreement between Georgia and Russia and the collective nature of our action. As for the heads of State or government of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, as far as I know, the President’s trip to Tbilisi, which focused on meetings with the Georgian President and telephone conversations with the Russian authorities, did not allow for meetings with them.

Q. - Can you give us the text of the peace agreement between Russia and Georgia?

No, I can’t, but it revolves around the following six points:

 the non-use of force

 the definitive cessation of hostilities

 free access for humanitarian aid

 the withdrawal of the Georgian military forces to their usual bases

 the withdrawal of Russian military forces to the lines they held before hostilities broke out. While waiting for an international body, the Russian peacekeeping forces will implement additional security measures

 the opening of international discussions on the modalities of security and stability in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Minister is currently briefing his EU counterparts in Brussels of the results of our efforts.

(…)

FRANCE/SERBIA

Q. - Why was Bernard Kouchner’s visit to Belgrade postponed? Has a new date been set?

I can confirm that the Minister had to postpone his trip to Belgrade because of the special meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels today on Georgia.

We are in contact with the Serbian authorities and are working with them to set a new date for the visit.

(…)./.