Syria/ Announcement of the lifting of the state of emergency
Libya
Palestinian Territories
Syria/ Announcement of the lifting of the state of emergency
The lifting of the state of emergency, which we called for, was approved by the Syrian government yesterday. It constitutes a step in the right direction if it results, in practical terms, in the ending of the crackdown, the release of all prisoners of conscience, as well as respect for the right to demonstrate peacefully and the freedom of the press.
We remain extremely concerned by reports of continued violence which has apparently killed and injured many people in recent days. The arrests must stop and light must be shed on the recent events.
France hopes that an inclusive political dialogue can be initiated, with a view towards the introduction of effective reforms that respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, and can thus contribute to the stability of the country which is in everyone’s interest.
Could you clarify if French soldiers will be deployed to Libya on the same level as your British partners – i.e. teams on the ground in Benghazi, for example, either independently as part of a Franco-British team?
We have always been very clear about the fact that we don’t plan to deploy ground troops.
Within the framework of our bilateral cooperation with the NTC authorities, France has provided our special envoy in Benghazi with a small number of liaison officers who are conducting a liaison mission with the NTC.
I want to reaffirm that paragraph 4 of UNSCR 1973 focuses on the issue of protecting the civilian populations.
The goal is specifically to give the NTC mainly technical, logistical and organizational advice in order to help them strengthen the protection of the civilian populations and to improve the distribution of humanitarian and medical relief.
Do you have any details about Mahmoud Abbas’s program in Paris? Is a meeting with Alain Juppé planned?
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, will conduct an official visit to France on April 21.
He will be received by President Sarkozy in the presence of the Ministre d’Etat, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, as well as by the Prime Minister.
This visit will be the opportunity to discuss potential ways of relaunching the Middle East peace process, as well as preparations for the next Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian State, which France would like to organize in June, in order to pursue, with the entire international community, its policy of actively supporting the establishment of the institutions of the future State.
The political situation in the West Bank and in Gaza will also be discussed, with France lending its support to Mahmoud Abbas’s initiatives aimed at ending the division of the Palestinian Territories.
We believe that the Palestinians are, more than ever, ready to establish a State and to manage it in a credible and peaceful way. I want to reaffirm France’s unwavering position: the creation of a Palestinian State is essential in order to achieve lasting peace while responding to the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinian people, as well as to the State of Israel’s need for security.