Daily press briefing by Ministry Deputy Spokesperson

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

(Paris, 25 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 )]

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THE SITUATION IN CHAD, THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND THE SUBREGION

Bernard Kouchner took part in yesterday’s UN Security Council meeting on “the situation in Chad, the Central African Republic and the subregion (EUFOR and MINURCAT).”

After applauding the cooperation of the Chadian authorities, the Minister said that the deployment of EUFOR in eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic was the largest autonomous military operation deployed by the European Union to date and was emblematic of Europe’s contribution to the action of the United Nations.

However the Minister said that in spite of the successes to its credit, underscored recently in a report by the NGO Oxfam, EUFOR had not been as effective as had been expected owing to the absence of a lasting political solution and the delay in deploying the African Union-UN hybrid force in Darfur. So the Minister insisted on the importance of the action on the ground of MINURCAT and the Chadian Integrated Security Detachment, the DIS, provided for in UNSCR 1778 for improving security for civilians.

Bernard Kouchner also recalled that in accordance with the guidelines given in UNSCR 1778, the Europeans were in favour of replacing EUFOR with a UN force in March 2009 and called for the transfer of authority between the two forces to be handled under optimum conditions.

MINISTER’S MEETINGS IN NEW YORK: EGYPT, ARAB LEAGUE, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AND NATO

Just a few words about the meetings the Minister had in New York yesterday:

Bernard Kouchner met his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, with whom he discussed bilateral relations, the Middle East peace process and the Union for the Mediterranean.

The last-named topic was also discussed at a meeting with the Arab League Secretary-General, Amr Moussa.

The Minister met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, with whom he discussed in particular the forthcoming meeting of the Quartet and the situation in the Palestinian Territories. He was particularly pleased that progress had been made on the ground regarding security in Jenin and Nablus.

At a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Minister discussed the situation in Afghanistan and raised the question of civilian deaths. The NATO Secretary-General said that new operational directives had been adopted in order to take this concern fully into account.

NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY

Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Minister of State Rama Yade represented the French presidency of the European Union at the meeting in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), held in New York yesterday at the initiative of Australia, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan and the Netherlands.

She conveyed the EU’s full support for the ministerial statement issued at that time and recalled that the EU, most of whose member States have ratified the Test Ban Treaty, attaches the utmost importance to the universality of the treaty and its entry into force as soon as possible.

Mme Yade emphasized that the changing international security context made the Treaty more pertinent. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means, and the risk of non-State actors gaining access to such weapons are a threat to the entire international community. The CTBT, a key instrument of nuclear disarmament, is one of the main responses to these challenges.

The Minister of State noted that a new momentum in support of the entry into force of the treaty was perceptible and should be confirmed, especially with a view to the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. She reiterated the EU’s call to all States that have not yet ratified the Treaty to do so.

The CTBT has already established a global norm against any nuclear explosion. Pending the entry into force of the Treaty, Mme Yade called for all States to observe the moratorium on nuclear tests and to refrain from any action contrary to the obligations and objectives of the CTBT. In addition, she recalled the EU’s request to the States concerned to dismantle their nuclear test sites as soon as possible in a transparent manner, open to the international community.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL PERSONS FROM ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE

While in New York for the UN General Assembly, Minister of State Rama Yade has deposited France’s instruments of ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

So this year, which is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, France becomes the fifth state in the world and the first EU member to ratify the convention. She joins Argentina, Mexico, Albania and Honduras. 20 ratifications are needed for the text, which has so far been signed by 73 States, to enter into force.

The international convention makes it a criminal offence for a State - or individual acting at its instigation - to cause a person to disappear without the fate reserved for this person ever being known. It also bans secret detention centres and strengthens procedural guarantees for putting people into custody. The convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006.

It is the result of nearly 30 years of effort by France, acting with Argentina, human rights groups and victims’ families associations. France was instrumental in presenting the first resolution to the UN General Assembly in 1979 on the question of enforced disappearance, and chaired the working group at the origin of the convention. France, having worked resolutely for this cause, had the special privilege, in a break with custom for a UN convention, of hosting the ceremony opening the convention to signature in February 2007.

STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION CONCERNING THE PASSAGE OF AN ELECTION LAW IN IRAQ

"The Presidency of the Council of the European Union welcomes the Iraqi parliament’s passage on Wednesday, 24 September, of the law concerning upcoming provincial elections.

"The unanimous vote is a positive step in reinforcing democracy and national reconciliation in Iraq.

"The Presidency of the Council of the European Union applauds the efforts deployed by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) helping to seek a compromise solution among the Iraqi political groups attaining overall approval for the law."

NORTH KOREA/NUCLEAR PROGRAMME

France deeply regrets the removal of seals and monitoring equipment at the Yongbyon site. She emphasizes her concern in the wake of North Korea’s announcement that she intends to reintroduce nuclear materiel to the site and her refusal to allow IAEA inspectors access to the facilities.

France again calls on North Korea to honour her commitments and resume the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of her nuclear programme in accordance with UNSCR 1718.

INDIA/PAKISTAN

France welcomes the continuation of meetings between foreign ministers in the context of the dialogue between India and Pakistan, announced after yesterday’s meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and the Pakistani President on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

France encourages both countries to pursue their efforts to establish a climate of trust and full normalization of their relations.

Rapprochement between India and Pakistan is vital for the stability of the region.

Let me remind you that President Sarkozy spoke with the Pakistani President in New York the day before yesterday and next week he’ll be receiving the Indian Prime Minister when he comes for the EU-India summit, which will be followed by a bilateral summit between France and India.

MIDDLE EAST

Q. - What are you expecting from tomorrow’s Quartet meeting?

The French presidency of the European Union wishes to contribute to strengthening the role of the Quartet, a vital forum for following up compliance with commitments under the Roadmap.

Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner will highlight the EU’s main objectives at the Quartet meeting in New York tomorrow, namely, that there should be decisive progress in the negotiations in order to reach a peace agreement, and improvements on the ground, the priority being a complete freeze in settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem, and an easing of restrictions on movement in the West Bank and Gaza.

IRAN/NUCLEAR ISSUE

Q. - Could you tell us about the consultations among the E3+3 political directors in New York? Will these consultations be followed by a ministerial meeting of the Six? If so, when and where?

Following contacts in New York, it was agreed that the foreign ministers would meet in the E3+3 format on the Iran nuclear crisis. In this perspective, discussions are continuing among the six political directors, on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

As I said yesterday, we are convinced that the E3+3 format is relevant and logical for confronting the challenge of the Iran nuclear issue. It is in this framework, I repeat, that an offer of a negotiated settlement of the nuclear crisis was made to Iran.

ETHIOPIA/KIDNAPPING OF FOREIGNERS

Q. - About the two employees of Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) kidnapped in Ethiopia on Monday. Do you have any information about the situation and their nationality? (…)

As we said earlier, the two employees of Médecins du Monde kidnapped in Ethiopia the day before yesterday were not French nationals.

It is up to that organization, with which we are naturally in contact, to give out any information on this matter if it so wishes./.