Official visit to Egypt - Statements made by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, during his joint press briefing with Mr Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt (excerpts)
Cairo, 30 December 2007
FRANCE/EGYPT
THE PRESIDENT – I’d like to begin by saying how pleased I am to be in Egypt standing next to President Mubarak. It’s the third time we’ve met as I saw him in Paris in August. I had a long meeting with him in Sharm el-Sheikh and a meeting today. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has himself already been to Egypt twice. So this shows the extent to which France considers Egypt’s role essential and President Mubarak’s role of paramount importance, not only for the regional issues, which he knows thoroughly, but for the question, essential for the world’s future, of dialogue between East and West which is absolutely fundamental.
And I’d also like to tell President Mubarak how much I appreciate his experience, wisdom and moderate vision of major issues in which he favours dialogue, consensus and meetings in a region which needs peace and doesn’t need war. Egypt is a vital partner for France, and President Mubarak is for us a friend.
CIVILIAN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
I would also like to tell you that at the bilateral level we discussed two questions. I told President Mubarak that France stands ready to cooperate on Egypt’s great ambitions for civilian nuclear technology. We discussed this matter in detail. It’s up to the Egyptians to take the decisions when the time comes according to their own procedures, but President Mubarak knows perfectly well the calibre of the French civilian nuclear industry, French expertise, experience and our willingness to provide Egypt with the energy she needs. As journalists here know very well, I am convinced that nuclear energy is the energy of the future and that it’s the responsibility of countries like France to enable the Arab countries to access the energy of the future. Those who fail to understand this wish in truth to condemn the Arab countries to not opening their economies to the twenty-first century, and everyone knows that terrorism and barbarism are fuelled by poverty and underdevelopment. So it is a major thrust of French policy. And given the effect the knock-on effect that Egypt can have on all the Arab countries, working with you, President Mubarak, and training Egyptian cadres is a key objective for us.
MEDITERRANEAN UNION
I also wanted to tell President Mubarak how pleased France is to have his support for the Mediterranean Union initiative which we’ve taken with our Italian and Spanish friends, and how essential it is for its success for Egypt and the president himself to be engaged in the process. We talked about it in detail, and I think I can say that we share the same conviction that the Mediterranean Union is going to be organized around specific projects and not structures, of which the least that can be said is that there are enough. We discussed these specific projects: cleanness of the Mediterranean, development of civilian nuclear power around the Mediterranean, idea of students from the area moving between all the universities around the Mediterranean, dialogue of cultures, and so on. In short, I think I can say we are on the same wavelength
LEBANON/SYRIA
And then we reviewed the most disturbing of the major issues. I wanted to tell the president how closely France shares his analysis on Lebanon. I wanted to pay tribute to President Mubarak and Egypt who have constantly supported Lebanon’s justified claim for independence and respect for her identity. From this point of view, I also wanted to say that it’s time for the Syrians to prove with facts what they keep on saying in speeches. France took the responsibility for a conditional dialogue with Syria. We are now waiting for actions on the part of Syrians, not speeches. Lebanon must have a president, a consensus president.
DARFUR
With regard to Darfur, France is also in tune with Egypt who is making every effort for there to be peace.
IRAN/IRAQ/MIDDLE EAST
On Iran, Iraq, Annapolis, the Palestinian State, and on what has to be done to bring about the conditions for peace, I think I can say we’ve reached considerable agreement in our positions.
FRANCE/EGYPT
As you’ve understood, for France the historic friendship with Egypt is a strategic element. I wanted to tell President Mubarak this. President Mubarak knows France very well, he had ties with President Mitterrand and with President Chirac, and I told him how pleased Bernard Kouchner and I would be to work hand in hand with him.
This is a very important visit for me, and the understanding between France and Egypt is a key element in preventing a conflict that would be suicidal for the global equilibrium between West and East. France has her role to play. Egypt has a role to play, a critical one, and that’s what we wanted to talk about. This is only the beginning of a joint undertaking.
Ladies and gentleman, if President Mubarak agrees, we’re at your disposal to answer your questions.
FRANCE/ISRAEL/US/PALESTINIAN DONORS’ CONFERENCE
Q – Since your election, you’ve said repeatedly that your friendship with the US and Israel gave you more influence over the course of things than the more direct opposition we’ve seen in the past. A number of leaders in the Middle East, without opposing this posture, are asking questions, among them the ones I now put to you: is President Sarkozy conveying real messages to his Israeli friends, especially on the issue of settlements which is considered a major obstacle to peace? And second, do you get the impression you’re being heeded?
THE PRESIDENT – First, let me say that the Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian State which was held in Paris – and incidentally was remarkably well organized by Bernard Kouchner and a success – show clearly that Arab side is confident. You know this region very well: do you think that such a conference could have been held in Paris if the principal leaders of the principal Arab capitals didn’t have confidence in France’s loyalty and frankness with respect to the establishment of a modern, democratic and independent Palestinian State?
And besides, can anyone doubt France’s total commitment to providing the means, for Mahmoud Abbas’ government and himself, for developing such a Palestinian State? I’ve met Mahmoud Abbas myself three times, twice in Paris and once in New York. He told me himself how much he hoped that France would bring her influence to bear to help the two States: a Palestinian State and an Israeli State having to live side by side, therefore to live in peace.
And I’ve said all along that the best guarantee for Israel’s security is a modern, democratic, viable Palestinian State with territorial continuity. I even went so far as to say that. Does that mean giving up a friendship with the United States? Not at all. We’re part of the same family. President Mubarak knows this, and I even went to talk to Congress and I don’t think I minced words when I spoke before the Congress of the United States.
Also, with regard to Israel, my position is well-known – it’s that of a friend, but a friend who speaks out. As I’ve said more than once, including when I opened the Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian State, it’s time for the Israelis to make gestures proving that peace is possible, including ending settlements.
And our position – Bernard Kouchner’s, mine, France’s – is consistent. Being a faithful friend doesn’t mean being an indulgent friend. And I want to be heard in all the Arab capitals when I say this. President Mubarak knows perfectly well that France will use all her influence to persuade the Israelis and Americans to make the gestures necessary for peace. And these gestures can’t be unilateral. That’s what I wanted to say. That’s my consistent position, and it doesn’t bother me to state it here in Cairo.
(…)
TERRORISM/MIDDLE EAST
I’ve always shouldered my responsibilities. I support a government which is fighting terrorism and I told President Mubarak we needed leaders of great nations like the Egyptian nation who are moderates, not in their love of Egypt but in their understanding of the region’s problems.
France will stand shoulder to shoulder with those who fight terrorism and barbarism. She will not be complicit with those who are barbarians. And people who commit attacks like that – it’s a new form of barbarism. This is what I told the Israelis, saying: make the gestures now and I’ll go to Israel in the spring. They’ve invited me to address the Knesset, and I shall tell my Israeli friends that it’s now that they must make gestures. Then I’ll go on to see President Mahmoud Abbas – since he’s proposed this – and I’ll say a number of things. That the future Palestinian State includes Gaza and that it’s an international responsibility, the world’s, to support the president of the Palestinian Authority, not the terrorists.
So I think my answer has been clear. Clear because it is both an answer from the heart and based on reason. France is hostage to nobody and France will say these things to all her friends because France has friends, she has friends in the Arab world – President Mubarak, if I may be allowed to say so – and friends in Israel. And the best thing friends can do is to prod each of their friends into understanding the other, into discussing matters together and finding compromises. They must live together in peace. There will be no peace so long as the Palestinians don’t have a viable State.
LEBANON
Q. – President Sarkozy, you’re welcome in Egypt. I wanted to ask you about Lebanon. France has done a lot: for 36 days, they’ve been trying to get a president in Lebanon. France is trying to help but so far they’ve not succeeded unfortunately. Your secretary-general is also trying to talk to Syria, but there too there’s been no progress so far. Don’t you think it’s time to announce the names or the list of parties which are thwarting the French initiatives and hindering resolution of the problem in Lebanon? And my second question is this: if there’s progress, after your meeting, are you going to make an effort with President Mubarak on Lebanon? Are you going to take new initiatives?
THE PRESIDENT – I asked President Mubarak for his opinion – I hope he’s going to allow me to say this – was I right to have contact with President Bashar al-Assad? I don’t regret it. I take responsibility for doing so because I wanted to be completely sincere in saying to Syria: here, you’ve got the opportunity to show that you want to take the path to respectability. We’ve no choice but to recognize today that we can’t wait any longer. Syria must stop talking and demonstrate with deeds. This is the first thing, and I’ll have no further contact with the Syrians – and neither will anyone in my government – until we have proof that the Syrians are willing to let Lebanon appoint a consensus president.
Second, France will release the necessary credits in order to speed up the establishment of an international criminal tribunal. Is my message clear? France is candid; France wants Lebanon to have a president. I pay tribute once again to French diplomatic efforts, and especially to Bernard Kouchner. If we hadn’t gone there, who would have taken things in hand? And if it were easy, you’d have known. Well, now, there needs to be proof, and it’s time for Syria to provide it.
(…)
IRAN NUCLEAR/SYRIA/LEBANON
Q. – We get the impression that the western democracies are powerless in the face of the policy of Iran and Syria in this part of the world. With respect to the military nuclear issue, we’re waiting for a resolution in the Security Council which is going to be toned down a bit by the Russian and Chinese position. What levers do you have?
Second, about Syria. You said you’re waiting for deeds. What deeds? And if they don’t happen, what are you going to do? Are you going to throw in the towel as regards Lebanon?
THE PRESIDENT – With regard to Lebanon, the proof is simple: let a president be elected, at last. Have you ever seen a State where someone takes away the key to parliament so that it can’t meet? Have you ever seen a State unable to get a democratic president? As President Mubarak said, it can’t go on like this any longer, it mustn’t be like this.
And then you ask me: what are the possibilities for international action? But let’s get the international tribunal established, and you’ll see if the international tribunal is considered a joke. It won’t be considered a joke by anyone, and France is ready to provide the necessary money to help get it constituted.
As for Iran, we will continue to take the same line: firmness and dialogue. Are we going to throw in the towel? We won’t, not on Lebanon, who can count on France, and not on the Iranian question because it’s important all the same for everyone to realize that not talking to each other and not understanding each other risk bringing the world to the brink of a catastrophic crisis. So it’s not a question of being disappointed or there being difficulties; it’s one of the most serious crises. Of course it’s difficult, everyone realizes it. This is precisely why we have to deal with it and never give up. (…)./.