Daily press briefing by Ministry Deputy Spokesperson

Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Deputy Spokesperson (excerpts)

(Paris, 21 August 2008)

AIR DISASTER IN SPAIN

According to our information at this time, three French nationals died in the Spanair crash in Madrid yesterday.

Their families were received by our embassy in Spain which is at their service to offer them all the help they need.

We are still in contact with the Spanish authorities to ascertain whether other French nationals may have been on the flight.

The Minister, Bernard Kouchner, spoke by phone last night to Miguel-Angel Moratinos.

(…)

GEORGIA

In Brussels yesterday, European Affairs Minister of State Jouyet briefed the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, the Sub-Committee on Security and Defence, and the parliamentary delegation for relations with the Caucasus countries on the initiatives taken by the French presidency of the European Union to encourage a solution to the conflict in Georgia. He spoke to the European legislators about the action we’ve taken to promote a ceasefire, and the conclusions of the special General Affairs and External Relations Council which met on 13 August.

Q. - France recently recognized Kosovo’s independence, upholding the right of peoples to self-determination. Is it going to support Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s demand for independence on the same principle? (…) If Russia recognizes the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, will France consider the decision legitimate from the standpoint of international law?

France supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within her internationally recognized borders.

After obtaining a ceasefire accord in the framework of the six-point agreement accepted by the Russians and Georgians, France’s priority as president of the EU is the application of all the provisions in this document, in particular the withdrawal of troops and access to all the victims of the conflict for humanitarian organizations.

The agreement provides for the start of international talks on the modalities for security and stability in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

As you know, Kosovo is a specific case, and we’ve always emphasized that it could not be taken as a precedent.

Q. - What were the circumstances when the French Ambassador to Georgia was stopped by Russian forces? Is France going to protest the incident? The Russian forces who stopped the Ambassador near Gori should have left a week ago: do you see this as further proof that the Russians are not honouring their commitment to withdraw?

Our ambassador to Georgia, Eric Fournier, was indeed detained at a Russian roadblock set up on the outskirts of the city of Gori when he was returning to Tbilisi after visiting a mountain training school at Satchkere where France has a training programme.

Our colleague is now back at the embassy.

It is unacceptable that our ambassador’s freedom of movement was impeded. We have informed the Russians of this.

This incident does not, however, bring into question the working relations between our ambassador and his Russian counterpart in Tbilisi, which recently led, among other things, to a prisoner exchange between Russia and Georgia.

With regard to the second part of your question, you know our position on the need for Russian troops to withdraw in accordance with the six-point agreement assented to by the Russian and Georgian authorities, and the commitments made by President Medvedev during his various conversations with President Sarkozy.

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LEBANON

Q. - UNIFIL’s mandate expires 31 August. Could you tell me if a resolution on extending the mandate is necessary and, if so, when it will be put to the vote?

As you know, after the crisis between Lebanon and Israel in the summer of 2006, the Security Council decided in UNSCR 1701 to task UNIFIL with monitoring the cessation of hostilities, supporting and assisting the Lebanese armed forces as they deployed throughout southern Lebanon and providing assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilians and the voluntary return of displaced persons.

A new resolution needs to be adopted to extend the current UNIFIL mandate which, under UNSCR 1773, which was adopted on 24 August 2007, expires on 31 August. Accordingly, a draft resolution will be presented to the Council in a few days. The vote on the text is scheduled for 27 August.

MINISTER’S VISIT TO THE MIDDLE EAST

Q. - Is the Minister still due to start his Middle East trip tomorrow? Could you tell us about the programme and the goals for the visit?

In view of the international situation, and specifically the latest developments in Georgia and Afghanistan, the Minister has had to modify the programme for his Middle East trip.

He will travel to Beirut in the late afternoon on Sunday, 24 August and go on to Damascus during the next day, the 25th. He will return to Paris in the night of Monday to Tuesday.

He will have meetings in both countries with the highest authorities, which we will tell you about tomorrow in detail.

In Beirut he will take the opportunity to review the situation in Lebanon after the formation of the national unity government and the adoption of the general policy statement but also the attack in which the city of Tripoli suffered severely. The Minister will also discuss the Syrian-Lebanese summit, which was held last week and which resulted, among other things, in the announcement of an exchange of ambassadors between the two countries.

M. Kouchner will also take up this last question in Damascus. The Minister will also be preparing for President Sarkozy’s visit which is scheduled for September according to the announcement made after the meeting between President Sarkozy and the Syrian President at the Paris summit for the Mediterranean on 12 July.

The Minister plans to make a quick visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories and to Egypt in accordance with the initial programme for his trip./.