Daily press briefing by Ministry Spokesperson

Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Spokesperson

(Paris, 26 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 )]

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY / MINISTER’S PROGRAMME / MIDDLE EAST, US, CHINA

As we’ve done every day this week, let me brief you on the Minister’s activities in New York. The Minister yesterday took part in the General Assembly plenary session on the Millennium Development Goals. He had a bilateral luncheon with Condoleezza Rice during which three main subjects were discussed: the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Iranian nuclear issue.

He also had a meeting with Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, then with the Prime

Then the Minister represented the EU presidency in the troika with China at which his Chinese counterpart was present. Several regional crises were discussed: the Iranian question, Darfur, Burma and global topics like climate change and the international financial crisis.

The Minister ended with a dinner with the Secretary-General at which they talked about climate change.

Today, Bernard Kouchner is due to take part in a meeting called by Greece on the protection of journalists. As you know, there’s a UN Security Council resolution on this problem: it’s an issue we take a keen interest in.

There will be an EU/UN luncheon, then in the afternoon a Quartet meeting on the Middle East and a meeting of the Group of Friends of Pakistan.

Q. - The Quartet meeting is just to coordinate positions isn’t it?

The purpose of the Quartet meeting is to reaffirm the international mobilization to help reach a peace settlement in the Middle East, invite the parties to make every effort to achieve a settlement in accordance with the commitments they made at Annapolis, call on the parties to do what is necessary in terms of security, to fight terrorism, lift the roadblocks and obstacles to free movement and access. There was supposed to be a freeze on settlement activity. A communiqué will be issued after the Quartet meeting.

Q. - Can you give us a few details about M. Kouchner’s meeting with Ms Rice and with Saud al-Faisal?

At the meeting with Ms Rice, regarding the Middle East, they discussed the situation on the ground. As you know, we also talked about this yesterday. There has been some progress in the Palestinian Authority taking charge of security in some cities, particularly Jenin. It’s a way for the Palestinian Authority to assert its authority, and it’s a positive development.

With regard to Afghanistan, the Minister discussed the need for closer coordination in the civilian and military efforts being made by the international community, in line with the directions taken at the Paris conference. He also discussed the best ways to encourage and speed up “Afghanization,” that is, having the Afghan armed forces take over security in the country - the transfer of responsibilities. Both Ministers reviewed the situation in the region and the need for cooperation among all the States concerned and involved in the fight against terrorism.

With regard to Iran, there is considerable unity in views. The Minister and Secretary of State reaffirmed the pertinence of the E3+3 format, as seen in the continuation of the work which took place in New York this week among the political directors and the prospect of a ministerial level meeting. You saw that Mr Steinmeier had a meeting with Mr Lavrov and that at after the meeting they referred to a forthcoming ministerial meeting.

Q. - And with Saud al-Faisal?

As I said, relations between the EU and GCC were discussed. You know that we’re in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement between the EU and Gulf Cooperation Council. There are stumbling blocks but we’re working on both sides to remove these obstacles. Both parties, Prince Saud especially, want to conclude the negotiations during the French presidency, that is before the end of the year.

The second point concerned regional issues, especially the Middle East and Afghanistan, in the context of efforts being made by both parties to address these problems and arrive at solutions.

IRAN/NUCLEAR ISSUE

Q. - About Iran. You mentioned a ministerial meeting of the Six. Has a date been set?

Talks are continuing.

Q. - The EU reportedly sent a letter to the IAEA about Iran’s nuclear programme. The letter apparently says the Iranian programme has a military purpose. (…)

I don’t see what letter you’re referring to. On the other hand I do have available for you a declaration made by the French delegation on behalf of the EU at the general debate at the IAEA in Vienna on 22 September.

The declaration, which is long since it covers all the areas addressed at the IAEA, reaffirms our positions regarding Iran and our serious concerns following the information reported by the Agency’s Director-General about the possible military aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme. Our concern is growing insofar as Iran has not answered the Agency’s demands for explanations and has refused to provide the information requested and to allow access to installations and individuals.

Q. - You’ve no precise information? Your assessment is based on what the IAEA says?

Our assessment is based on a whole body of information and intelligence which we have.

(…)

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON BURMA

A year ago, the Burmese junta brutally repressed peaceful demonstrations in Rangoon. The international community and the United Nations Security Council clearly expressed their expectations at the time, in particular as regards the release of political prisoners, among them Aung San Suu Kyi, and the launch of genuine dialogue with a view to national reconciliation.

A year after these tragic events, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union regrets that the Burmese authorities have not yet given tangible signs of their will to respond fully and in good faith to the international community’s expectations despite a few gestures such as the recent release of certain political prisoners, including U Win Tin.

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union calls on the Burmese authorities to meet the demands defined by the Security Council in its declarations of October 2007 and May 2008 such as the end of arrests of members of the opposition and human rights defenders, the release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the launch of genuine dialogue with the opposition.

The Presidency also calls on the Burmese authorities to fully cooperate with the United Nations and implement the demands and recommendations contained in the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

The Presidency of the Council welcomes in this respect the personal commitment of the United Nations Secretary-General to facilitate the realization of those objectives.

DECLARATION BY THE PRESIDENCY ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE SITUATION OF PEOPLE BELONGING TO RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN IRAN

The European Union is very concerned at the deterioration in the exercise of freedom of religion or belief, and especially the freedom of worship, in Iran, where the pressure on people belonging to religious minorities has worsened in recent months.

The European Union is deeply disturbed by the arrests since April of Iranian converts to Christianity and members of the Baha’i community. It calls for their immediate and unconditional release and the cessation of all forms of violence and discrimination against them.

There have been many reports that people belonging to the Christian, Baha’i, Sufi and Sunni minorities in Iran are regularly suffering forms of persecution such as confiscation of property, desecration of their places of worship, imprisonment and numerous acts of violence, including some life-threatening.

The European Union is concerned at the Iranian parliament’s decision to consider a draft law making apostasy one of the crimes punishable by death. If adopted, that law would be a serious infringement of the freedom of religion or belief, which includes the right to change religion and the right to have no religion. It would violate Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was freely ratified by Iran, and would threaten the lives of a number of Iranians who have been arrested and held without trial for several months on account of their religious beliefs.

The European Union urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to reconsider its decision to examine the law in question, release all those who have been imprisoned because of their religious affiliation and allow all its citizens to exercise their freedom of religion or belief in full.

EUROPEAN AGENDA: EU / INDIA / MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT MINISTERS

We’re distributing the European agenda for next week, and you’ll see there are several important meetings, especially concerning EU relations with its major partners. I’m thinking of the summit with India that is to be held in Marseille on Monday. At the summit a new revised framework for action is to be signed - the earlier one was adopted in 2005 - so as to broaden our cooperation and dialogue to new areas, particularly security, sustainable development, research, new technologies, education and culture.

I also draw your attention to the informal meeting of development ministers. Following the UN General Assembly in New York at which the French presidency of the European Union called for revamping world governance and collective management of crises, European development ministers will be meeting in Bordeaux on Monday and Tuesday, 29 and 30 September.

Alain Joyandet, Minister of State for Cooperation and Francophony, will chair the meeting which is being held to discuss the main lines of EU development policy for food security, health and adaptation to climate change.

The discussions will also focus on implementing the recommendations adopted at the Accra conference on aid effectiveness and preparation for the Doha conference on development finance.

The meeting will consider three main subjects.

Food Security. In close collaboration with the European Commission, the French presidency will propose to Member States that the EU response be based on the three pillars of the “international partnership for agriculture and food” proposed by President Sarkozy in Rome.

In line with the conclusions of the European Council in June and the Commission’s proposal, the presidency will work to mobilize financial resources to support agriculture in developing countries. Experts in agriculture in Africa and financing this sector and MEPs will be invited to contribute to ministers’ discussions, bearing in mind the decisions the Council will take before the end of the year.

Health. Bernard Kouchner will be present when this question is discussed. The presidency, with the European Commission’s support, will pursue the discussions begun at the international conference on 7 May 2008 on access to care and long-term financing of health systems through the use of tools suited to the conditions in each developing country. Foreign Affairs Minister Kouchner will take part in this working session.

Aid effectiveness. Three weeks after the Accra High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, ministers will discuss the structure of European aid: how to better coordinate actors and instruments to meet global challenges. How to better address the needs of aid recipients by adapting the range of tools, taking account of aid orphan countries and putting forward solutions adapted to situations of fragility. How to take into account the consequences of the global financial crisis for developing countries.

Lastly, ministers will be preparing the Doha international conference on financing for development. The French presidency will endeavour to define and enhance the EU position on the basis of the ambitious mandate defined by the Council in May 2008. Aside from aid financed through ODA, the Doha conference provides an opportunity to address the question of better global economic and financial governance, which President Sarkozy said in New York was essential. It will also allow discussion to continue on other forms of finance, innovating financing, migrants’ remittances as well as progress in mobilizing the national resources of recipient countries to support shared growth.

I’d like to point out that EU aid, that is aid from the EU itself and that of Member States accounts for 55% of global official development assistance, or €46 billion in 2007. Of this total, Germany and France are the first and second leading contributors.

FRANCE/JAPAN

We were asked Tuesday if there was any comment on the formation of the new government in Japan. I said we were waiting for the new government to be formed and for the appointment of the foreign minister. I wanted to follow up on this question and confirm that Bernard Kouchner sent a letter yesterday to his new Japanese counterpart, Mr Nakasone, to congratulate him and also tell him that given the considerable common ground between France and Japan and between the EU presidency and Japan’s G8 presidency, we wished to develop still closer collaboration in all areas.

(…)

UNITED STATES / FRANCE

Q. - What’s the purpose of General David Petraeus’s visit to France? Why is he meeting the prime minister and in what capacity?

General Petraeus has just taken up his duties as commander for the United States of a vital area which includes sensitive and strategic theatres. He is paying a visit to France. He saw the Defence Minister and Armed Forces Chief of Staff yesterday. He was also received at the Quai d’Orsay. Today a meeting is scheduled with the Prime Minister. It is natural, given General Petraeus’s responsibilities, for him to meet the French authorities and discuss the main questions for which he is responsible when starting his new duties.

(…)

MIDDLE EAST

Q. - What’s your reaction to the report by Oxfam and several humanitarian organizations on the work of the Quartet?

We saw the report which maintains the Quartet must do more. That is also our conception of the Quartet’s role. This wish will be clearly stated by the Minister when he attends the Quartet’s meeting this afternoon in his capacity as president of the EU. It is clear that in addition to mobilization, the international community has to assist with the negotiations between the parties. The idea is not to be a substitute for the parties, but to assist them, to show we stand ready to provide guarantees, to take specific actions to encourage and assist with a peace settlement. It’s been discussed for a long time in the EU: what kind of measures can we offer to encourage an agreement and its application?

Q. - Will M. Kouchner present any specific proposals on behalf of the European Union?

The Minister will talk about the various areas in which the EU can make contributions, particularly on the ground. As you know, a number of ideas have been discussed, and we’re working on them. He will repeat that Europe stands ready to make a practical contribution to the implementation of a settlement.

FINANCIAL CRISIS

Q. - Is the French presidency planning to organize a European reaction to the financial crisis? Isn’t there a risk of the crisis monopolizing the time and energy of European leaders and letting other questions such as European integration and ratification of the Lisbon Treaty get delayed?

You saw that President Sarkozy gave a major speech yesterday on the economic situation which contains proposals and ideas for confronting the international financial crisis. There’s a proposal for a meeting of the G8 and a complete overhaul of international financial governance. In New York, speaking on behalf of the European Union, he said it was necessary to mobilize and find ways to deal with the financial crisis. Of course, there’s a European dimension which is altogether essential in this action, and I don’t doubt the question will be discussed at the European Council on 15 October.

This doesn’t distract our attention from all the efforts we’re making on the other European questions: the energy-climate package, the asylum and immigration pact, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, particularly relations with Russia, and of course the next steps after the Irish referendum. As you know, the Irish Prime Minister will be in Paris this week. He’ll be having lunch with the President and the Minister will be there.

We’re continuing to take care of matters on all fronts.

Q. - But will there be a special meeting of EU ministers devoted to the crisis?

The finance ministers have meetings. There was an Ecofin meeting in Nice last week. There’s another on 7 October. Consultations are being intensified on these questions./.