Daily press briefing by Ministry Deputy Spokesperson

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

I’ll begin by discussing the activities taking place in New York right now with the opening of the UN General Assembly. The Minister left this morning for New York and arrives late morning. He will initially join in the bilateral meetings of President Sarkozy. As you know, the President is having a meeting with the new president of the Republic of Pakistan. Then the Minister will attend the EU/Russia luncheon, which is a luncheon in plenary format, with the 27 ministers of the EU Member States. Then he will attend the high-level meeting of the Security Council, chaired by Burkina Faso, on international mediation and conflict resolution. Tonight the Minister attends the reception and dinner of the Appeal of Conscience organization which is to present an award to the President, the guest of honour at the dinner.

Tomorrow there’s an EU/US plenary meeting, then a Security Council meeting on EUFOR and MINURCAT to address the situation in Chad and the eastern part of the Central African Republic. Lastly, there will be a dinner, as there is every year, given by the Minister in honour of the Francophone delegations, Francophone members of the UN.

The Ministers of State are also in New York since Rama Yade, Alain Joyandet and, as of Wednesday, Jean-Pierre Jouyet will be at UN headquarters. As you know, we have a lot of obligations and meetings, especially as president of the European Union, and the Ministers of State are sharing among themselves the duty of chairing these meetings, and also many bilateral meetings. Today Alain Joyandet for example is attending a luncheon of the Friends of Haiti and the Security Council meeting while Rama Yade is taking part in a meeting convened at the initiative of the Netherlands on the question of restoring peace and establishing the rule of law - the problem in post-conflict situations - and will proceed to sign several international treaties before taking part tomorrow in a meeting on Afghanistan.

We’ll keep you informed of past and forthcoming meetings.

With regard to meetings that have taken place, you’ll have noted that in New York yesterday there was another meeting of the ad hoc liaison committee tasked with helping the Palestinian Authority (PA) which Rama Yade attended in her capacity as representative of the EU presidency. As you know, following the Paris conference, there were several meetings of this ad hoc committee; yesterday’s meeting took stock of the aid disbursed to the PA since the Paris conference and looked at the prospects, and also considered the economic situation of the Palestinian Territories, the PA’s budget situation and the restrictive measures that put a brake on growth and economic development in the Territories.

I’d like to tell you what’s been done since the Paris conference. A total of $400 billion in budget aid has been given to the PA along with $1 billion in project aid. This level of commitment is quite remarkable and shows that the Paris conference was a success resulting in tangible actions. It also shows the support the international community and donor community are giving the PA but it also reflects concern about a situation that urgently needs improvement. Budget aid serves of course to help the PA pay the salaries of government workers but it also makes it possible to maintain and service social and educational facilities and finance hundreds of little projects.

(…)

So yesterday’s meeting was an opportunity to review the disbursements that have been made, to reaffirm our political and economic support for the action of the PA which is implementing a plan of reform and development presented at the Paris conference, but the participants also had the opportunity to express their concern about the maintenance of a number of obstacles and restrictions, especially regarding freedom of movement of goods and people imposed by the Israeli authorities in the Palestinian Territories. (…)

Q. - At the Paris conference there was a lot of talk about removing the Israeli roadblocks. Has this idea been dropped?

On the contrary, I underlined in the report of the meeting the concern that was expressed that these obstacles were still in place and the wish that they be removed as this is essential for the Territories’ economic development.

Q. - There are also the settlements which are being speeded up. Was that discussed yesterday?

I don’t know if it was discussed in detail. But clearly settlement activity for us is, speaking generally, one of the main obstacles to peace. We condemn settlement activity.

(…)

BURMA

You’ve perhaps seen reports, fragmented first but now confirmed about the Burmese authorities’ decision to release several thousand prisoners. People are talking about over 9,000 prisoners.

We’re in the process of verifying whom these measures benefit but from the information we have at this time, a very prominent person in Burmese political life is reportedly affected. A journalist, a founding member of the National League for Democracy, which is Aung San Suu Kyi’s party. He is U Win Tin. We’ve been demanding his release for several years. He was imprisoned 19 years ago. We awarded him the French Republic’s Human Rights Prize in 1998. UNESCO awarded him its Press Freedom Prize in 2001, so this is positive news at which we are overjoyed.

With that said, I want to recall our position, which is also that of the European Union: we demand that the Burmese authorities quickly release all political prisoners held in Burma, including naturally Aung San Suu Kyi, and besides their release, establish the conditions for a genuine dialogue with the opposition with a view to lasting national reconciliation.

LEBANON/SYRIA

Q. - Do you have any comment on the deployment of Syrian troops near the northern border of Lebanon and if you’ve not reacted, do you wish to do so?

We’ve not reacted because we wanted first to verify the information. We’re in the process of doing that and of course we want to see the full implementation of the commitments made by Syria - in particular at the Paris summit on the Mediterranean, the meeting with President Suleiman, and then at the Syrian-Lebanese summit conference - with regard to the complete normalization of relations between the two countries.

Q. - You’re saying that because you think Syria and Lebanon have backed away from them?

No. We’re saying it because commitments were made specifically about exchanging ambassadors, border delimitation and border controls between the two countries. So we’d like to see these commitments that were made observed, kept, implemented.

Q. - Is the timeframe that was announced being respected?

The timeframe announced for the exchange of ambassadors is before the end of the year. This was a commitment made in our presence. For the rest, I refer you to the conclusions, to the communiqué issued after the meeting between President Suleiman and President Assad. A number of measures were mentioned in the communiqué and they must, in our view, be implemented.

Q. - Is there also a timeframe in the discussions between France and Syria on human rights? There was a communiqué in France last week urging Syria to liberalize?

If I’m not mistaken, it was a communiqué from the presidency on behalf of the EU. I don’t know about a timeframe for the weeks ahead. On the other hand, as we’ve said repeatedly, every time we’ve met the Syrian authorities we’ve brought up the question - it was the case when the Minister was in Damascus and during the visit by the President. We bring up both specific, identified cases and a general situation which is a matter of concern to us. That’s what we said on behalf of the 27 a few days ago.

Q. - Has the massive deployment of Syrian troops taken France by surprise? Had it been discussed beforehand in exchanges with the President in Damascus?

We’re looking at the situation and waiting for information from our embassies in both Damascus and Beirut before making a judgment.

IRAN/EU

Q. - What’s France’s position regarding the tensions that have chilled diplomatic relations between Iran and Italy? I’m asking you as president of the EU?

We stand united with our European partners on a position with respect to Iran and regarding our relations with Iran which reflect the general concern we have for the human rights situation in Iran and the very deep concern we have with regard to Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities. All of this is the subject of consultations among the Europeans.

GEORGIA

Q. - Is the timeframe for the conferences shaping up? Among the observers sent to Georgia, there are reportedly about 50 French gendarmes. Will they be armed?

With regard to the timetable, the arrival of the observers will be staggered. The head of mission, who is German, and the deputy head, who is French, are already on the spot. A group of Italian monitors is due to arrive today. According to the information I have at this time, there are 31 French monitors who’ll be leaving for Georgia tomorrow - I’d ask you to confirm this with the Defence Ministry. As for arms, you must appreciate that this is a civilian mission, but there are clearly security procedures that are applied so as to create an environment of security around the mission.

15 October is still the target date for the international talks, but all this is being discussed and examined with the various parties. Particularly the mandate of the EU special representative who was appointed in Brussels last week, Pierre Morel. He is holding talks with the principal partners interested in this matter.

Q. - Do you know where these meetings are to be held?

In Geneva, but the exact place, the format and agenda have yet to be decided. Everything is under discussion and being examined.

Q. - Will the 30 or so French monitors be deployed in the areas adjacent to South Ossetia?

They are deploying in the context of a mission which was given a mandate to deploy in Georgia, initially in the adjacent areas which are going to be evacuated by Russian troops.

FRANCE/RUSSIA

Q. - About Russia and the meetings in Sochi between the Prime Minister and Mr Putin. I read they were positive on the economic issues. On the other hand, the EU has frozen all negotiations on cooperation with Russia. Could you comment on this paradox?

The Prime Minister has spoken at some length on the content and results of his visit to Sochi since he held a press conference there which I believe is accessible on the Matignon site.

The visit had a bilateral character as the Prime Minister went to Sochi for a meeting of the Franco-Russian intergovernmental seminar, a body that meets every year, alternating in France and Russia.

The Prime Minister clearly recalled the parameters of our bilateral perspectives and those of the EU-Russia relationship.

Decisions were taken by the 27 to break off negotiations on the partnership and cooperation agreement.

On the other hand there’s a close bilateral relationship as, like others - the Italian minister was in Moscow a few days ago and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was recently in Poland - it is not in our interest nor our intention to stop the bilateral dialogue we have with Russia, nor the dialogue we have with her in the multilateral forums other than those specific to the EU and Russia. We have meetings in the context of the UN Security Council, the five permanent members and the E3+3 group on the Iranian question.

The Prime Minister has already let it be known that the negotiations can begin as early as October.

That’s what we wish. It will mean that the 12 September agreement on the withdrawal of Russian forces to positions they were in prior to the outbreak of the conflict have been implemented.

KOSOVO

Q. - The EULEX mission said yesterday it was speeding up the deployment in Kosovo. Could you tell us exactly who the members of this mission are? How were they chosen?

It’s a civilian mission which is being set up in the context of the European security and defence policy. The EU Member States make proposals of contributions to the Council’s secretariat general. Planning staff are tasked with preparing for the deployment on the ground.

Q. - Do you think the mission is going to calm the situation between the communities in Kosovo given that Russia doesn’t recognize it?

The EULEX mission clearly has a stabilization role and so far has successfully carried out its mission in conditions we all know, which means that the deployment is taking place gradually both in terms of missions carried out under the operation and geographic deployment. As for the mission’s effectiveness, we can say that there have been no incidents in this region for many weeks. We think the deployment of EULEX is in good measure responsible.

EU PRESIDENCY

Q. - It’s three months to the end of the French EU presidency. Can you tell us what the main events will be in the next few months?

We’re planning a press conference to give you a progress report and perspectives for the remaining presidency. As you know, there are a number of meetings coming up, beginning with the European Council on 15 October. This will be prepared ahead of time at ministerial meetings. One aim in particular is to get the immigration and asylum pact adopted at the Council. We’ll be listening to our Irish partners in the wake of the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. We’ll have external relations topics. We’ll brief you on our relations with Russia.

We have high ambitions for the French presidency. We’ve achieved some results and we don’t plan on stopping there. (…)./.