JOINT PRESS BRIEFING WITH MR. KAMAL KHARRAZI,
IRANIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS &
STATEMENTS BY M. DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN,
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

FRENCH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

April 24, 2003

THE MINISTER - Let me say first how pleased I am to be in Iran today.

Following my visits to Jordan and Turkey, I've had intensive and very constructive talks with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and am very pleased shortly to be having meetings with President Khatami and the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council, the former Iranian President, Mr Rafsanjani.

Iran is a leading country in this region on account of her history, geographical position, population size and civilization. So it's especially useful for us to be able to develop our consultations at a key time, at a critical moment when the international community has to take up some important challenges.

IRAQ/HUMANITARIAN CRISIS/SANCTIONS

This is true of course in the case of Iraq, and I have addressed a two-point message to Iran's leaders. Firstly, we have to contribute together to the stability of Iraq and the region. And, secondly, we have to demonstrate collectively a spirit of responsibility. This means in France's thinking a central role for the United Nations and adopting a pragmatic approach so that we can find the appropriate solutions at each stage. The humanitarian situation is naturally the most urgent crisis and its management must be coordinated by the UN. Restoring and maintaining security on Iraqi territory are indispensable prerequisites for reconstruction, and the forces on the ground, the coalition forces, have a primary responsibility in this regard.

We support an immediate suspension of the sanctions, then lifting them definitively under a procedure to be determined by the United Nations. The situation in Iraq has changed profoundly. We must take this into account. This is why the disarmament issue must be wrapped up quickly. It's an important one for all Iraq's neighbours.

When it comes to building Iraq's future, we must work with an open mind and constructively. Iraq's institutions and complete sovereignty must be re-established with due regard for her unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty. Iraq's neighbours, including Iran of course, have an important role to play in all these issues. On Friday, at a ministerial meeting in Riyadh, they set in train a process of consultation based on principles we share.

MIDDLE-EAST CRISIS

Aside from Iraq, the other challenge is of course the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its resolution must enable us to reconcile the imperative for justice with the requirement for security. The principles guiding us are those laid down by international law. Our objective, that of the entire international community, is a viable and democratic Palestinian State alongside a State of Israel living in security and fully integrated into the region.

We must collectively now retake the initiative, and this is why we are pleased about the agreement reached yesterday between President Arafat and the Palestinian Prime Minister, Abu Mazen, on the composition of the Palestinian government. This is a major step forward in the reforms.

Once this government is installed, the Quartet's roadmap must be published and implemented without delay. All who have influence must obviously help to take this process forward.

IRAN/FRANCE/PROLIFERATION/HUMAN RIGHTS

Now a word about the bilateral issues between our two countries.

On the question of non-proliferation. As you know, France pays particular attention to this issue. It's a critical element in international stability. We welcomed President Khatami's statements. It's important to continue, to move forward on the path to international legality, towards compliance with the principal rules governing proliferation. And in this respect we think there's a need to pursue the establishment of confidence-building measures and particularly to sign the additional protocol to the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguard agreements, as Mr ElBaradei proposed during his recent visit. These are important for ensuring the stability of the international order and confidence between peoples on the international stage.

Likewise we discussed human rights. We expressed satisfaction at the progress that has been made. And we hope it continues. Here too, as you know, the European Union and France attach special importance to these issues. And it's important for us to go on moving forward in the framework of the dialogue we have initiated between our two countries and between the European Union and Iran.

US/MIDDLE EAST/IRAQ

Q. - How does France assess US objectives in the region ? Are the change in the political map of the region and the monopolization of the world among these objectives ? What does France think about this ? To what extent is France contributing to or opposing these objectives ?

THE MINISTER - With the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime, which we welcome, a new phase is opening. France wishes to help launch the process of Iraq's political, economic and social reconstruction in optimum conditions.

We wish to do so pragmatically, in a spirit of openness and dialogue with all parties on the international scene. Of course the neighbouring countries in the region have a special responsibility. And we're keen to maintain cooperation and confer very closely with each of them. As I said, we are pleased, after the Istanbul meeting, to see these consultations continuing, especially in Riyadh a few days ago. We think it essential to deal with the problems and quickly achieve concrete results. And this is why, in the United Nations framework, after the adoption of UNSCR 1472 on the humanitarian problems, which was passed unanimously, we are prioritizing these consultations so that solutions are found to the main issues : disarmament, sanctions and the swift constitution of a sovereign Iraqi authority - obviously a key point for France and for the international community, so that the Iraqis can quickly take their future in their own hands. In the present phase dominated by the humanitarian emergency and security questions, the American and British coalition forces obviously have a special responsibility, and our wish is to see the international community as a whole working to get Iraq quickly on the path to regaining her sovereignty.

CHIRAC/BUSH/UN

Q. - In the conversation between Presidents Chirac and Bush, the emphasis was on the need for the UN to take prompt action in Iraq, but no mention was made of that organization's principal role. I'd like to know the French position on this.

THE MINISTER - As regards France's position vis-à-vis the United Nations, I believe we share the feeling of the whole international community, that we must move quickly on the reconstruction in Iraq with due regard, of course, for international legality. France is talking about the central role ; as you know, the Americans and British are talking about a vital role. I believe we all agree on the need for the United Nations, at every stage, to do all it can, to make its full contribution and, obviously, the stronger the legitimacy of the international action, the more effective it will be. We think it's necessary to be pragmatic in our determination to deal with each of the problems and this is why we are making headway on all the issues which the international community is having to deal with today - I'm thinking of disarmament, sanctions, the constitution of a legitimate authority in Iraq. So we're ready to make proposals in the Security Council framework in order very quickly to find solutions to the difficulties on the ground in Iraq. Our first concern is to satisfy the wishes of the Iraqi people, their urgent needs at the humanitarian level and with regard to Iraq's economic, political, social and administrative reconstruction. Obviously, the goal for us all is to maintain Iraq's unity and ensure respect for her [territorial] integrity and sovereignty.

SHIRAZ JEWS

Q. - What is your reaction to the announcement of the release of the Shiraz Jews [Iranian Jews convicted of espionage in prison in Shiraz] ?

THE MINISTER - Let me thank you, because it's an announcement which means a lot to us ; [the issue] had obviously created strong feelings in France. So we welcome what Mr Kharrazi has just said about these Shiraz Jews.

Thank you.