Electronic press briefing by Ministry Spokesman
Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Spokesman (excerpts)
(Paris, 27 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 )]
HAITI/UPDATE ON FRENCH EFFORT AS AT 27 JANUARY
Two weeks after the terrible earthquake which struck Haiti, the search, rescue and rubble-clearing operations have been terminated. The emphasis remains on helping the disaster-stricken people.
1. French community Thanks to the aircraft deployed to Haiti, 1,058 French nationals have been evacuated, together with 792 Haitians, 35 [non-French] European Union citizens and 56 nationals of other countries, i.e. a total of 1,941 people. Sadly, the deaths of 24 of our compatriots have been reported, whilst we are still without news of 10 others.
2. Personnel and equipment deployed
1,140 French personnel are deployed on the ground: 503 Interior Ministry staff, 612 military personnel (including 168 on the aircraft and 435 on the ships), 16 additional Foreign and European Affairs Ministry officials and 9 Health Ministry staff. 1,630 tonnes of equipment have also been delivered.
The 9 planes chartered by the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry have delivered 149 tonnes of equipment and transported over 480 people. The light transport and landing ship “Francis Garnier” has left Port-au-Prince to deliver humanitarian aid to Ile-à-Vache and then the port of Les Cayes.
The field hospital, operational since 17 January, has seen over 800 patients and admitted over 200.
3. Organization of the French aid
In Port-au-Prince, a coordination unit is operating at the Embassy, staffed by 16 additional Foreign and European Affairs Ministry officials. The Embassy is providing the headquarters for the operational activities, and the grounds of the ambassador’s residence somewhere for the search-and-rescue teams to stay as well as a transit area. A platoon of 18 gendarmes provides security for each of these sites.
In Paris, the 50 crisis-centre staff are working in shifts coordinating the French effort. There is also an “adoption unit” manned by 7 members of the International Adoption Service. 155 Foreign and European Affairs Ministry volunteers have also been working in shifts answering the 17,500 calls received since the beginning of the crisis.
4. Children undergoing adoption procedures
All in all, 876 families have contacted the international adoption service, of whom 391 have been given decisions relating to 446 children, taking siblings into account.
HAITI/SPECIAL SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
The Human Rights Council is holding a special session today in Geneva devoted to Haiti, convened on Brazil’s initiative and with the support of many countries, including France.
Beyond providing a strong signal of support and solidarity for the Haitian people and leaders, the session aims to affirm that human rights have a full role to play in the reconstruction efforts that have just been initiated at the Montreal Conference. Access to food, drinking water, housing, healthcare, education and also the strengthening of democratic governance, re-establishment of the legal system, security and the rule of law will be vital to the reconstruction of the country. Attention will, in particular, be focused on the most vulnerable people: children, women and the elderly.
The involvement of the entire United Nations system, and in particular the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has been reaffirmed.
France welcomes this mobilization of the Human Rights Council in support of Haiti.
(…)
BURMA/SITUATION OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI
France reacted with firmness to the further sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi on 11 August 2009 and the European Union toughened its sanctions.
It continues to call for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and of all the Burmese political prisoners. This is an essential condition for the credibility of the elections planned by the authorities this year. Let’s not forget that Aung San Suu Kyi was deprived of her liberty for 14 of the last 20 years and that the number of political prisoners in Burma is estimated to be approximately 2,000.
France would like the Burmese government to make concrete gestures in support of the national reconciliation process which would include the opposition and the ethnic minorities. This is particularly urgent prior to the elections planned by the authorities.
(…)
MIDDLE EAST
Q. - The Israeli Information Minister, Yuli Edelstein revealed yesterday, during an interview on public radio, that Israel “did not intend to set up a verification commission as recommended by the UN.” Would you have any comment on this topic? Do you think, more specifically, that Israel’s refusal to bow to UN demands and set up an independent and credible commission of inquiry on the conduct of the Israeli army during the Gaza conflict could pave the way for a referral to the ICC, according to the very terms of the Goldstone Report?
We urge the parties to establish commissions of inquiry to examine the serious concerns revealed in the report produced by the commission led by Mr Justice Goldstone. (…)./.