Electronic press briefing by Ministry Spokesman
Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Spokesman
(Paris, 25 January 2010)
[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 )]
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IRAN/NUCLEAR
Q. - What’s your reaction to Iran’s threat to produce highly enriched uranium, while the ultimatum issued by President Ahmadinejad to the international community to supply nuclear fuel to Iran according to her conditions expires at the end of January?
I would like to remind you that the IAEA made a pragmatic and realistic proposal to Iran to supply the fuel that she demanded for the Tehran Research Reactor. Iran rejected this proposal.
Production of this fuel through the enrichment of uranium to 20% by Iran would not be possible due to the lack of production capacity in Iran, and would obviously be in violation of, in particular, five UN Security Council resolutions which require Iran to suspend her enrichment activities.
AFGHANISTAN
Q. - What are the expectations concerning the London conference on Afghanistan? Germany intends to send additional troops in order to provide intensive training for the Afghan forces. Will France follow this approach? The conference would also address the issue of payments by the international community to the Afghan government to finance the reintegration of moderate Taliban members and allow the Afghan forces to take over responsibility for the security of certain provinces in 2011.
On President Sarkozy, Angela Merkel and Gordon Brown’s initiative, the Conference on Afghanistan will take place in London on 28 January and allow Afghanistan and the international community to determine the framework for their relations over the next few years.
This is all the more necessary given that, with the re-election of President Karzai, a new phase in Afghanistan’s reconstruction process is beginning.
If the global strategy agreed at the NATO Summit in Bucharest and the Paris Conference in 2008 remains valid, its implementation should now evolve in order to allow a transition towards increased ownership of responsibilities by the Afghans.
The terms of this transition will be decided in London on 28 January. In order to ensure its effective implementation, the Afghan authorities and the international community will undertake mutual commitments:
for the Afghans: in continuation of President Karzai’s inaugural speech, clear and firm commitments are expected in terms of more determined and effective action on governance, and, in domestic terms, through the strengthening of civilian capacities and Afghan security, the fight against corruption, major efforts to support local governance, economic development and national political dialogue.
for the international community: measures to support the commitments of the Afghan authorities, reorganization of the international system in terms of increased effectiveness and improved coordination in particular with regard to strengthening the United Nations Mission and the appointment of new international representatives.
MIDDLE EAST
Q. - Can you confirm that the Egyptian Foreign Minister will visit Paris tomorrow? If yes, will he take part in the follow-up meeting to the Paris International Donor’s Conference for the Palestinian State?
I can confirm that Mr Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, will participate in the follow-up meeting to the Paris Conference which will take place tomorrow, and to which the Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, is invited.
In addition, I can confirm that Tony Blair, Jonas Gahr Stoere and Catherine Ashton will also take part in this meeting, together with Bernard Kouchner.
LEBANON
Q. - Have you received a request for assistance from the Lebanese authorities following the air disaster off the Lebanese coast?
We have in fact received a request from the Lebanese authorities for assistance from the French Civil Aviation Investigation and Analysis Office (BEA). France is linked to Lebanon through an air transport cooperation agreement. The BEA has therefore responded positively to this request for assistance.
Furthermore, we have dispatched a maritime patrol aircraft to the scene; the aircraft left Cyprus mid-morning./.