Daily press briefing by Ministry Deputy Spokesperson
Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Deputy Spokesperson (excerpts)
(Paris, 3 September 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 )]
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SERBIA/FRANCE
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner received Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Vuk Jeremic, yesterday.
He assured his counterpart of France’s determination to help Serbia create a future within Europe and congratulated him on progress in cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
As President of the European Union, France intends to have a trusting relationship with the Serbian authorities elected in June.
This latest meeting between Bernard Kouchner and his Serbian counterpart testifies to our wish to deepen relations between our two countries.
ARGENTINA/PARIS CLUB
France has learned of the Argentinian President’s very positive statements concerning the reimbursement of the debt owned by that country to the Paris Club. We welcome that announcement.
The implementation of this decision will be a decisive step towards the full normalization of Argentina’s economic and financial relations with the international community, which we wholeheartedly support. It will help re-establish a relationship of trust between Argentina and her Paris Club creditors. It will improve the country’s attractiveness to international investors and will foster the full recognition of its remarkable economic progress by financial markets.
UKRAINE
Q. - Ukraine was plunged into a political crisis on Wednesday after Victor Yushchenko’s party announced its withdrawal from its pro-Western coalition with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s bloc. Is this an attempt by Russia to change the situation in Kiev? Are you making a connection with the situation in Georgia?
As you know, we are committed to Ukraine’s stability.
An EU-Ukraine summit will be held in Evian on 9 September and the extraordinary meeting of the European Council on 1 September just underscored the importance of this forthcoming meeting in the current context.
RUSSIA/GEORGIA
Q. - Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, who is scheduled to receive EU leaders, including the French President, on Monday, said on Tuesday that Russia no longer considers Mikhail Saakashvili the Georgian President. Is France, which negotiated the six-point agreement signed by Messrs. Medvedev and Saakashvili, calling on Russia to respect the President who was democratically elected by the Georgians?
The Georgian authorities were democratically elected.
France reiterates her attachment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
She stresses the priority she attaches to implementing the six-point plan in its entirety.
In line with the European Council of 1 September, the President of the Republic and Bernard Kouchner, as well as Messrs. Barroso and Solana, will travel to Moscow and then to Tbilisi on 8 September.
Only a constructive dialogue between the parties will make it possible to resolve the crisis.
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THAILAND
Q. - Do you have any comment on the political unrest in Thailand? Are any particular measures being taken for French nationals in that country?
France is closely following developments in Thailand.
She reaffirms her attachment to democracy in that country and calls wholeheartedly for a peaceful resolution to the crisis that respects the rule of law.
We invite our countrymen in Thailand and people wishing to travel there to keep regularly informed of the situation by visiting the Ministry’s travel advisory site and the website of our embassy in Bangkok.
As indicated there, areas where demonstrations are being held in Bangkok (the seat of the government and surrounding areas, Sanam Luang square) and provincial towns are to be particularly avoided./.