Earthquake in Spain
Situation in Yemen/ Renewed violence perpetrated by the authorities against the demonstrators
Human Rights Council/ Withdrawal of Syria’s candidacy
Disappearance of Al Jazeera journalist Dorothy Parvez
Earthquake in Spain
France was very shocked to learn that an earthquake (measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale) hit the town of Lorca in the south-east of Spain yesterday evening, leaving 8 people dead, almost 200 injured and causing significant damage.
In this ordeal that Spain is facing, we express to the Spanish authorities and people our wholehearted sympathy and solidarity; we share the families’ grief and distress.
38 pupils from a school in Briançon, who were present during the earthquake, have been evacuated thanks to the exemplary response of their host families, to whom we extend our wholehearted thanks. The children took the coach this morning to return to Briançon.
France commends the courage and mobilization being demonstrated at this very moment by all those who are mobilized on the ground to give help to the affected populations and notably to the almost 10,000 displaced persons.
Situation in Yemen/ Renewed violence perpetrated by the authorities against the demonstrators
We have been following with great concern the recent developments in Yemen.
France deplores and condemns the excessive use of force against the demonstrators which has killed and injured many people in Sanaa as well as in the country’s main cities.
It urges the Yemeni authorities to honor the commitments - which have been reiterated many times at the highest level - to protect the demonstrators.
We reaffirm our support for the efforts of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and for the transition plan that it has proposed. This plan has been accepted by the parties, and now constitutes the best way to resolve the Yemeni crisis in a peaceful and orderly manner, while maintaining the country’s unity, security and stability.
We reaffirm our wish that this agreement now be signed as swiftly as possible and urge the President of the Yemeni Republic and all Yemeni parties to immediately initiate this transition.
Human Rights Council/ Withdrawal of Syria’s candidacy
Kuwait’s candidacy for a seat on the Human Rights Council has replaced Syria’s candidacy.
France has campaigned vigorously against Syria’s candidacy for several weeks now.
Such a candidacy was particularly incongruous and shocking in the context of the brutal crackdown being perpetrated by the regime against the Syrian population.
Syria does not, under any circumstances, have a rightful place in an institution which, during a recent special session, denounced the responsibility of its authorities in the bloody crackdown against the peaceful demonstrators.
The withdrawal of Syria’s candidacy preserves the credibility of the Human Rights Council which has, during the last few months, adopted key decisions aimed at condemning the human rights violations perpetrated against the civilian populations. It began implementing investigation mechanisms in February 2011 in order to shed light on abuse in Côte d’Ivoire, Libya and Syria.
Disappearance of Al Jazeera journalist Dorothy Parvez
In the context of the brutal crackdown in Syria which is also targeting Syrian and foreign journalists, we are extremely concerned by information relating to the situation of Al Jazeera journalist Dorothy Parvez.
Dorothy Parvez went to Syria to exercise her profession and fulfill her mission to inform; she hasn’t been heard from for more than two weeks.
We urge the Syrian and Iranian authorities to shed full light on her situation.
France again urges Bashar al-Assad’s regime to fully respect the freedom of the press and to ensure the safety of journalists in Syria.