Daily Press Briefing

Statements made by

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

(excerpts)

 

(Paris, February 29, 2008)

[Please note that only the original French text issued by the

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.

 

KENYA

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I will read the statement issued last night.

 

“Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, welcomes with great satisfaction the power-sharing agreement reached today between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.

 

“The minister of foreign and European affairs commends the wisdom of each of the parties. They have found the political compromises necessary to guarantee a lasting outcome to the crisis in Kenya. A return to stability, calm and economic development is now possible. Kenya must continue to work for the reconciliation of all its constituents.

 

“The minister of foreign and European affairs salutes the work of the Panel of Eminent Persons chaired by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan. He is pleased at the unity of the international community behind his mediation.

 

“Mr. Bernard Kouchner also hails the decisive role played by the African Union in settling this crisis, and in particular that of its president, Jakaya Kikwete. France, in complete coordination with the European Union, will continue to support the implementation of this agreement. It will continue its efforts to help the Kenyan people return to the path to prosperity and peace.”

 

The EU and African Union have also made statements.

 

CAMEROON

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Q - Cameroon has experienced a wave of violence over the last six days?

What’s your position? (…)

 

We are paying close attention to events in Cameroon.

 

After the rioting of the last few days, a relative calm seems to have returned today to the main cities in Cameroon. Our consulates in Douala and Yaounde continue to keep in touch with our compatriots whom we are advising not to move around at this stage.

 

I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that our advice to travelers is unchanged: we advise against travel to Cameroon and we urge travelers to exercise extreme caution.

 

As for your question on an eventual amendment of the Constitution, we hope that a political debate will be held peacefully and democratically, taking into account all the constituents of Cameroonian society. On the initiative of the Slovene presidency, the EU is mobilized and conferring on this matter.

 

Lastly we consider it is important to make a distinction between the February 23 demonstration, which was a demonstration organized by the main opposition party in Cameroon, the SDF, and the strike by transporters and the violence of the last few days. A serious social crisis is compounding a tense political context.

 

Q - Do you support the opposition which wants to organize a constitutional conference?

 

I’m not supporting any side. We wish in a general way to see an open political debate involving all the constituents of Cameroonian society.

This is in everybody’s interest.