STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON

FRENCH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

April 29, 2003

Q - Since yesterday several papers have carried reports about a matter that seems a bit surprising, that refers to comments at the Quai d'Orsay three years ago, in April 2000.

Q - There's supposed to have been a conversation with an Iraqi "source" and an agreement to block Iraqi dissidents from attending a conference in Paris. Do you know about this? Do you have any comment? And to link it with other, more serious, allegations about France passing military data to Iraq, according to the British press, could you comment on these allegations?

Since you ask the question, I'd like to say that I am obviously shocked. The minister referred to this matter last night. He said he could give no credence whatsoever to all these reports, and wants people to stop believing rumors and gossip and concentrate on essentials.

In regard to the more specific question you asked, I'd like to say simply that the mission of this department is to maintain good relations with the 1300 foreign journalists accredited to Paris, with each of them.

As for the substance, I gave a public response to a question about the Indict meeting on April 11, 2000. I will restate the French position:

"We learned that a meeting of the Indict association is to be held in Paris shortly. This is a strictly private initiative in which the French authorities are not involved, regarding which we have no particular reaction providing the activities of this association respect French law."

I will add that we've made inquiries at the French consulate in London; I got an initial response only this morning because it takes a bit of time to research documents going back three years. So far, they haven't found any indication of visas being rejected, at least for ordinary passports because the archives don't include diplomatic passports. But in principle the Iraqi opposition leaders hardly had diplomatic passports.

Q - So they weren't refused visas?

The consulate in London, in any case, hasn't been able to find indications in its archives that they were refused visas; we're continuing to check

I'd also like to appeal to the memories of any of you who were there who might be able to attest to the fact that there were many Iraqi dissidents at the meeting.

Q - This is a political matter; wasn't France entitled to prevent Iraqi dissidents from meeting in Paris? The same could apply to opposition leaders from other countries.

Quite. We could have refused in fact; the British press is insinuating that we did, but actually we didn't.

Q - The accusations which seem far more serious are those in the Sunday Times about giving the Iraqis information.

Once again, as the minister said, let's be serious! There's a whole bunch of different countries with interests sections in Iraq. It's natural for diplomats in Iraq to pass on messages to their Iraqi counterparts. They're doing their job, nothing but their job.

Q - I remember. I was at the press briefing you mentioned and at the Indict meeting. I know many of the people who were there, and no one at any time protested about difficulties caused by France.

Thank you for pointing out that no one from Indict protested at the time.

(...)

Q - But why don't you respond to this ridiculous smear campaign?

You know that we're not in the habit of responding to gossip in the press.

Q - There's one question I've asked many times which you always refuse to answer. Perhaps now is the time. About the French-bashing in the United States and elsewhere, which is being relayed. I asked you if you had identified the media organs that are circulating racist and xenophobic ideas against France and abject political attacks. Q - Murdoch's empire, we know, is plotting against France. Why not react publicly once and for all and say that you are within your rights?

It's not up to me to comment on activities covered by freedom of the press, but your question certainly reflects the feelings of a number of you.

(...)

Q - Have you received, through official channels, any authenticated document from Baghdad that would implicate France?

No, at this time we have no knowledge of these documents. We've had contacts with the British and Americans about the matter, and it seems that the documents in question were found by journalists on the spot. I will not speculate further, I don't believe that it warrants further speculation.  

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

Paris

April 28, 2003

Q - How do you interpret Tony Blair's recent statements about a unipolar world dominated by the US? Does France still believe it's possible to establish a multipolar world?

I refer you to comments by the president and foreign minister which are unambiguous.

Q - Are the allegations in the English paper, The Sunday Telegraph, about supposedly secret links between France and Iraq grounded on fact? Do you have any reaction to the accusations by the paper that they're based on Iraqi documents?

I refer you to the statements Defense Minister Alliot-Marie has made.

Q - Did France oppose a meeting of the Iraqi opposition in Paris in March 2000? Why?

So far as I remember the meeting did actually take place in Paris. It was a private meeting.  

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, April 24, 2003)

Q - Does France support a NATO presence in Iraq? Under what conditions and for what purpose?

As the minister said on April 3 at NATO's ministerial session, France is ready to examine with its allies an eventual NATO role in Iraq.

It will do so on the basis of specific proposals that still have to be presented to the Atlantic Council and on a whole series of factors, among which I'll cite the nature of the mission, the chain of command and the legal of the operation.

Q - Do you consider the quarrel between Washington and Paris over after the recent clarifications by the State Department and White House?

The minister has made several statements about that during his current trip to the Middle East.

Q - How many anti-French incidents have been reported by French consulates in the US since the start of the year and how serious have they been?

We're naturally following this matter closely but, as you'll understand, it is difficult in and of itself to compile exact figures.    

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

Paris

April 23, 2003

Q - Are you taking Colin Powell's criticisms as a refusal by the US authorities to re-establish harmonious relations with France?

I refer you to the comments Foreign Minister de Villepin made in Ankara this morning: "France has acted throughout the Iraqi crisis, along with a very large majority of the international community, in accordance with its convictions and principles in order to defend international legality. It will continue to do so in all circumstances."

Q - Are you concerned about continuing American opposition to any UN involvement in rebuilding Iraq?

Discussions on the reconstruction of Iraq just started yesterday in the Security Council. Let's give them time.

Q - Do you think the EU has a common position on Iraq's reconstruction?

As you know, the EU presidency issued a declaration on Iraq at last week's summit of European heads of state and government in Athens. That's the latest on the question.

Q - What's your interpretation of the US refusal to allow a visit to Iraq by Hans Blix and the UN inspectors?

I'm not a spokesman for the US.

Q - Could you clarify your position on the sanctions against Iraq, especially your conditions for suspending the measures?

Our position was clearly stated yesterday by France's permanent representative to the UN. We support suspending the civil sanctions immediately.

Q - Does France agree with Russia that lifting the sanctions in Iraq requires a UN declaration on the weapons of mass destruction?

I refer you to the statements our permanent representative to the UN made to the press; they're very clear and show that we're working with pragmatism.

Q - Does the decision lie with UNMOVIC and in that case what happens about Mr. Blix?

Discussions are to continue in the Security Council in the next few days.

Q - We're hearing a lot about French "pragmatism" these days. Is it a position coordinated with the Germans and Russians in St. Petersburg?

We have converging positions with our German and Russian partners and also with many states in the international community.

Q - What efforts will France make about Iraqi debt and what will be your position at the Paris Club on Thursday?

It's too soon to make a statement on this matter which gets an initial review at the ordinary monthly meeting of the Paris Club tomorrow. I refer you to the Ministry of Finance for the procedures in effect in that body and the agenda.