Daily press briefing by Ministry Deputy Spokesperson

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

(Paris, 17 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 )]

MARSEILLE: EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE - JOINT STATEMENT BY BERNARD KOUCHNER AND JEAN-PIERRE JOUYET

We extend our warm congratulations to the city of Marseille which has just been chosen European culture capital 2013 jointly with the Slovak city of Kosice.

The designation rewards the dynamism of all the local actors who have worked for many years to make Marseille a centre of artistic creativity and technological innovation, a crossroads of culture and Europe’s open gateway to the Mediterranean.

(…)

FRANCE/KAZAKHSTAN/KYRGYZSTAN/UZBEKISTAN/TAJIKISTAN/ TURKMENISTAN

The Minister will receive his five Central-Asian counterparts for bilateral meetings today and tomorrow during the Paris EU-Central Asia forum on security issues.

These meetings will give Bernard Kouchner, six months after his visit to Ashgabat for the EU troika-Central Asia meeting on 10 April, the opportunity to discuss bilateral relations with each of the five countries, international questions and the implementation of the EU strategy for Central Asia adopted in June 2007.

The Minister will meet this afternoon with Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi of Tajikistan and Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Ednan Karabayev is making a working visit to France during which he will be received by the Chairman of the National Assembly France-Kyrgyzstan friendship group and by the Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning. A joint French-Kyrgyz declaration will likely be adopted at the Minister’s meeting with Mr Karabayev.

The Minister will continue his bilateral meetings on 18 September with Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov of Uzbekistan, Foreign Minister Marat Tajin of Kazakhstan and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov of Turkmenistan.

(…)

SUDAN/ICC

Q. - The Algerian Foreign Minister said this morning he was considering asking the Security Council to stop the proceedings started by the International Criminal Court against Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. Would France support such a move?

France is committed to seeing the proceedings begun in the International Criminal Court follow their course.

With regard to Sudan we call on the Sudanese authorities to begin immediately the complete necessary cooperation with the ICC and international community, beginning with the execution of the arrest warrants that have already been issued by the Court for Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kushayb.

In Darfur the situation continues to worsen on the ground where the violence is continuing, including against displaced persons. We reiterate our call to the Sudanese government to stop its attacks immediately. We ask all parties to comply with their ceasefire commitments and to respect international humanitarian law.

SYRIA/IRAQ

Q. - Syria has just appointed an ambassador to Iraq. How does France assess this development for peace and regional stability in the region?

We welcome the decision of the Syrian authorities.

The reopening of embassies of several Arab countries in Baghdad over the past few months is a movement we encourage as it is likely to consolidate regional stability.

We hope that other members of the international community join in this movement.

IRAN/NUCLEAR ISSUE

Q. - Could you tell us the date of the meeting of the Six on Iran? At what level? Are there differences among the Six on the question of additional sanctions against Iran and does the EU presidency think the way to go is tougher EU sanctions outside the framework of the UN?

A meeting of E3+3 political directors is scheduled to take place in Washington on Friday, 19 September, to go over the Iranian issue in the wake of the IAEA report. Our consultations will continue at ministerial level in New York next week during the UN General Assembly.

To answer your second question, the Six have repeatedly reaffirmed their common attachment to the dual approach of dialogue and firmness. As Iran has rejected our offers to resume negotiations, we shall be discussing the next steps, in particular a new sanctions resolution at the United Nations.

We consider that Iran’s attitude leaves us no other choice but to adopt new sanctions.

We’ll also be discussing the question with our European partners./.