Daily press briefing by Ministry Spokesperson

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MINISTER’S VISIT TO GEORGIA (9-10 OCTOBER)

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, will be visiting Georgia on 9 and 10 October.

The Minister will be able to evaluate the situation on the ground, specifically the state of withdrawal of Russian troops. He will extend his support to the European observers deployed in Georgia in the context of the EU monitoring mission (EUMM) and to the teams from the UN and OSCE.

The Minister will meet with President Mikhail Saakashvili in Batumi and his counterpart, Eka Tkeshelashvili, in Tbilisi.

He will also have a meeting with representatives of the opposition.

On 10 October Bernard Kouchner will travel to the city of Gori in the company of the head of the EU monitoring mission, Hansjorg Haber, where he will take part in a patrol in the area adjacent to South Ossetia. He will greet the European observes deployed there which include French gendarmes.

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Q. - Does the French presidency of the European Union consider that the agreement on the withdrawal of Russian forces from the buffer zones in Georgia is respected only if Russian soldiers pull out by tomorrow from the Akhalgori district where they control access? (…)

What’s important at this stage is for the Russian forces to withdraw from the areas adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Bernard Kouchner is visiting there today and tomorrow with the EU monitoring mission whose last reports indicate they are withdrawing.

The next step is to be the start of international talks in Geneva on 15 October to address the modalities for security and stability, and the question of refugees and displaced persons. It is essentially in this context that the situation in the Akhalgiori valley will be discussed.

VISIT TO EGYPT BY BERNARD KOUCHNER (10-11 OCTOBER)

Bernard Kouchner will visit Egypt on 10 and 11 October. He will meet President Hosni Mubarak and his counterpart, Ahmed Abul Gheit.

The trip will afford the Minister the opportunity to discuss the main regional questions with Egypt as we do regularly with this country which is one of our foremost partners in the region. The situation in the Middle East will be the object of particular attention in the wake of Bernard Kouchner’s visit to the Palestinian Territories and Israel, and given that Egyptian mediation to encourage the resumption of inter-Palestinian dialogue is continuing. The Minister will also discuss the situation in Sudan with the Egyptian authorities.

The visit is also part of the close consultations we have with Egypt as a co-chair of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean. The Minister will discuss the main events coming up, in particular the meeting of foreign ministers of countries in the Union for the Mediterranean in Marseille on 3 and 4 November, which is to formulate the governing structures for the process and ensure general coordination in the implementation of projects.

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TURKEY: ATTACK IN DIYARBAKIR

France firmly condemns yesterday’s terrorist act on a vehicle carrying students of the Turkish police training school at Diyarbakir, which killed five and wounded many others.

She offers her heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and loved-ones, and wishes the injured a prompt recovery. France extends her deep sympathy and complete solidarity with the Turkish authorities and people. She reaffirms that no cause can justify such acts of violence.

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AFGHANISTAN

Q. - Does France plan to organize a conference on Afghanistan? If so, where and when? What would be the goals and which countries would take part? Is it true that France wants the commands of the NATO and US forces in Afghanistan placed under the control of a single staff?

As you know, the international support conference for Afghanistan, which was held in Paris on 12 June and in which the neighbouring countries took part, emphasized the importance of a regional approach.

At the EU-Central Asia forum on security issues, which was held in Paris on 18 September, to which Afghanistan was invited, the importance of the regional dimension was again affirmed.

This is the background in which the Foreign and European Affairs Minister, when he appeared before the National Assembly Foreign Affairs committee on 7 October, emphasized the interest of a regional meeting on Afghanistan which we’re working on.

With regard to your second question, let me say that France favours closer coordination between ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom without this necessarily implying that they be placed under the authority of a single staff.

TURKEY/IRAQ

Q. - Do you have any reaction to the Turkish Parliament’s decision to renew the army’s mandate so it can intervene in Iraq?

There’s a cooperation agreement on the fight against terrorism signed between Iraq and Turkey on 28 September 2007; this is the appropriate framework in which we call on the Turkish and Iraqi authorities to pursue dialogue so as to effectively stop terrorist actions against Turkey from Iraqi territory.

I also remind you of France’s constant position in favour of Iraq’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity./.