Press Conference by Minister for Defence of France

 

The United Nations should play “a particular role” in Afghanistan’s national reconciliation process, Hervé Morin, Minister for Defence of France, said today following a day of meetings with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy.

Speaking at a Headquarters press conference, Mr. Morin also underlined the importance his country attached to the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remaining intact, and the link between elections in Côte d’Ivoire, scheduled for 31 October, and ongoing efforts towards national reconciliation in that country.

The Minister said that, while President Hamid Karzai bore primary responsibility for the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan, the United Nations had a role to play in light of its role in representing the international desire for reconciliation in that country.  “I believe that the United Nations, through its Special Representative or his assistants, could play a particular role and help President Karzai in that task, which is a very difficult one given the fragmented nature of political representation in Afghanistan,” he said in reference to Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan.

Responding to questions, Mr. Morin said he had found the Secretary-General “quite receptive to my proposal”, stressing that Afghanistan’s national reconciliation process must be open to all those who accepted the principle of political dialogue, including “the so-called moderate Taliban”.  He added:  “We have to accept dialogue with all those who do not question the very principle of institutions in Afghanistan.”

On Lebanon, Mr. Morin said he had recalled in his discussions at Headquarters the importance that France attached to the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), including respect for the Blue Line, freedom of movement for the Mission, the demilitarization of south Lebanon and the involvement of the Lebanese Government in supporting UNIFIL’s work.  What mattered for France was that the mandate remained intact even as the Mission evolved, he said, adding:  “We should remain within the mandate and we should keep United Nations objectives firmly in mind.”

Asked about the rebuilding of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Mr. Morin acknowledged that it was a long process in which the Government of Lebanon faced difficulties.  However, France was convinced of the determination of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to achieve the goal of the Lebanese Armed Forces assuming all its responsibilities in south Lebanon.

Mr. Morin touched briefly on Côte d’Ivoire, saying that adhering to the established timetable was an important precondition for ensuring that the national reconciliation process went forward.

Overall, the Minister emphasized that his country was “resolutely engaged” in United Nations peacekeeping, contributing more than 7.5 per cent of the peacekeeping budget, which put France in fifth place in that regard.  It currently participated in nine missions, with more than 1,700 personnel deployed.

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For information media • not an official record