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STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON
FRENCH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
July 9, 2002
Excerpt
Q - Do you have any comment about the talks between the U.N. secretary-general and the Iraqi delegation in Vienna last Friday?
I'd like to say two things. First, just for the record, may I remind you of Mr. de Villepin's answers to questions asked at various press briefings in Damascus and Amman during his recent trip to the Middle East and in Russia yesterday. I think it's important to refer to this, today more than ever.
I'd also like to say, this morning, that France received yesterday the U.N. secretariat report on the meetings between Mr. Annan and Mr. Sabri in Vienna on July 4 and 5. We are pleased of course that progress has been made regarding the return of Kuwaiti archives. On the other hand we regret that the Iraqis have still not announced the return of inspectors to Iraq, a point the minister had insisted on specifically several times during the last few days, saying that France considers this to be essential. Our objectives with regard to Iraq remain unchanged at the humanitarian level and in the security domain. In that perspective we support the U.N. secretary-general's efforts in these discussions. The British Security Council president also said yesterday that the vast majority of the council hoped that the talks would continue.
Q - There've been statements from intellectuals about Iraq, a meeting of officers abroad, were you informed of developments in the situation? Are the Americans talking to you?
No. But obviously we have very close consultations with our American partners on all these questions. We're having intensive talks about Iraq with all our Security Council partners, including the Americans.
Q - Do France and Russia want the dialogue and negotiations between Iraq and the U.N. to continue?
As concerns France, I'd like to repeat what I said just now. Our objectives regarding Iraq remain unchanged at the humanitarian level and in the security domain. In that perspective, we're supporting the U.N. secretary-general's efforts in these discussions. As you know, following the Vienna talks, the secretary-general is now waiting for the Iraqi authorities to respond. It's best to wait for a response before coming to a definitive conclusion about the results or continuing the discussions. I also said just now, quite factually that the president of the Security Council said yesterday that the vast majority of the Council would like the talks to continue.