Daily press briefing by Ministry Deputy Spokesperson

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

(Paris, 2 October 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 )]

MINISTER’S VISIT TO THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AND ISRAEL (3-5 October)

Following the Quartet meeting in New York, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs will visit the Palestinian Territories and Israel from 3 to 5 October.

He will meet with President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki on the Palestinian side and on the Israeli side Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and leaders of the main Israeli political parties.

The visit will allow the Minister to take stock of progress in the negotiations, the parties’ implementation of their commitments and follow-up of the Paris conference.

Bernard Kouchner will encourage both parties to pursue their negotiations so that tangible progress is made in the peace process in coming months. The visit also affords him an opportunity to assess how the European Union, in partnership with the United States, can help the parties move forward.

The Minister will recall our attachment to the parties’ compliance with their commitments. He will travel to Jenin with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to observe the Palestinian Authority’s achievements on the security front. He will insist to the Israeli authorities that freezing settlement activity is essential.

In the wake of the Paris conference, over $1.4 billion in direct budget aid was paid out to the Palestinian Authority. This amount, which represents a considerable effort by the international community, must, to have a lasting impact on Palestinians’ daily lives, be accompanied by an easing of the Israeli-imposed restrictions on movement.

The truce in Gaza will also be discussed.

Finally, at Ms Livni’s invitation, Bernard Kouchner will attend the opening of a debate on 5 October organized by the Israeli Foreign Ministry to discuss its strategic priorities, in a procedure similar to the preparation of a white paper on foreign policy.

(…)

EU/LATIN AMERICA: FORUM ON THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION

In the context of the French presidency of the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Institute of the Americas are hosting, on 6 October, the “European Union, Latin America-Caribbean Forum: confronting the challenges of globalization in a post-Lima summit partnership?” in the main auditorium of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Minister of State Rama Yade, IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno and Institute of the Americas President Jean-Michel Blanquer will open the debates in which the following will be participating: José Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Director-General of the International Monetary Fund; Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Organization; Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World Food Programme; Juan Lozano, Colombia’s Minister for the Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development; Pamela Cox, the World Bank’s Vice-President for the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

In line with the Lima summit, this EU/Latin America meeting will intensify dialogue between the two regions, review past actions and formulate new objectives. The Forum will take up the themes of social cohesion, the food crisis, and the fight against climate change.

Eneko Landaburu, Director General for External Relations at the European Commission, will offer a synthesis of the proceedings.

The entire forum will be open to the press.

FRANCE/LEBANON

Q. - Two Lebanese politicians (Marwan Hamade and Samir Frangie) are currently in France. Are they going to be received at the Foreign Ministry? If so, is it at their initiative or the Ministry’s? Will the recent developments in Lebanon and on the other side of the Syrian border be discussed?

In the context of our regular contacts with all of Lebanon’s political leaders, the people you mention are being received at the Ministry today. The whole range of current events will be discussed. (…)./.