3:12 P.M. EDT Q Mr. President, what's your message to Americans on the new variant? Q Are you concerned about the variant, sir? THE PRESIDENT: You've already gotten my release. Q Yes. THE PRESIDENT: I've decided that we're going to be cautious - make sure there is no travel to and from South Africa and six...
Q: Regarding the Asia-Europe Meeting in Phnom Penh: what are the major topics and what is the French delegation, if there is one? What's the link to the Indo-Pacific? A: The 13th summit of heads of State and government of ASEM (Asia-Europe Dialogue), organized by Cambodia in virtual format on 25 and 26 November, is devoted to Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth. An informal forum founded on a Franco-Singaporean initiative launched in 1996, which now brings together 51 member (...)
For the fifth year running, French Schools Abroad Week (29 November-4 December) will highlight the strengths and values of France's teaching establisments abroad. Sustainable development is central to teaching programmes in all disciplines. This omnipresent theme was therefore selected as the focus of French Schools Abroad Week 2021: "Art, science and sustainable development: French education for tomorrow's world". With 543 schools and 375,000 pupils from kindergarten to secondary school in (...)
Q: Will the coalition coming to power in Berlin be the right partner for Paris and the French EU presidency? A: We welcome the coalition agreement presented yesterday by the SPD, Greens and FDP and the commitment it shows to Europe and European sovereignty. In the framework of Franco-German cooperation, we would like to work swiftly with the next German government on issues of common interest, particularly in the run-up to the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, which (...)
Q: Yesterday, in the E3 statement, you say that Iran has continued its systematic nuclear escalation, thereby permanently and irreversibly upgrading its nuclear capabilities. If these capabilities are now permanent and irreversible, doesn't that make a completely new negotiation necessary rather than a simple return to the 2015 agreement which would be de facto insufficient? A: I refer you to the E3 statement made to the IAEA Board of Governors yesterday. As regards the JCPOA, our goal is (...)
Q: Do you think the Le Touquet agreement should be renegotiated? A: France extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved and expresses its solidarity with the injured. The tragedy we saw yesterday evening strikes at the heart of Europe and its values. I also refer you to the statements made by President Macron and the Interior Minister about the tragedy. As President Macron said during his conversation with the British Prime Minister, we have a shared responsibility, particularly as (...)
Q: What kind of European response would you like to see to help Lithuania resist pressure from China after Beijing downgraded its relations following Vilnius's decision to strengthen its relations with Taiwan? A: Solidarity between Member States is a fundamental principle of the European Union and any attack against a Member State attacks the EU itself. Along with our European partners, we express our full support to Lithuania. The European Union is fully mobilized to strengthen its (...)
Josephine Baker will be admitted into the Pantheon on 30 November 2021, following the decision of the President of the French Republic. Through this move, France is honouring an iconic figure, who was born American, yet chose to move to France, the everlasting land of universal enlightenment, to continue her lifelong combat for freedom and emancipation. As a world-renowned music hall performer, Resistance fighter and an unstoppable antiracism activist, she always stood by the sides of (...)
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Head of Presidential Administration Andriy Yermak of Ukraine about recent events. They discussed their shared concerns about ongoing Russian military activities near Ukraine's border and its harsh rhetoric towards Ukraine. They agreed that all sides should pursue diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. Mr. Sullivan underscored the United...
This morning I was briefed by my chief medical advisor, Dr. Tony Fauci, and the members of our COVID response team, about the Omicron variant, which is spreading through Southern Africa. As a precautionary measure until we have more information, I am ordering additional air travel restrictions from South Africa and seven other countries. These new...
M. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had a meeting yesterday via video conference with Mr Ahmed AlKhateeb, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism. The Minister of State and the Minister signalled their wish to strengthen our bilateral cooperation in the area of tourism at a time when the industry is a central focus of the strategic partnership between France and Saudi Arabia (...)
Q: The embassy in Addis Ababa is apparently encouraging French residents to leave the country. What is the urgency, what means? And what is the diplomatic outcome of the domestic war, which has little to do with major international or even African tensions? A: Given how the situation is evolving on the ground in Ethiopia and the Addis Ababa area, we have formally called on French nationals to leave the country immediately, and, as we indicated on our website's travel advisory page, all (...)
M. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, paid an official visit to Indonesia on 23 and 24 November. The visit testifies to the vitality of the strategic partnership between France and Indonesia, a country at the heart of the Indo-Pacific area. The Minister was received by Mr Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, and spoke to his counterpart, Ms Retno Marsudi. He met Mr Luhut Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, and Mr Prabowo (...)
On the 22nd International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, France reaffirms its commitment and determination to combat and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. 2021 has been marked by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a spike in violence, especially domestic violence, which the United Nations Secretary-General has described as a "shadow pandemic". At a time when women's and girls' rights are being undermined by the resurgence of (...)
Q: The election of Interpol's president takes place in Istanbul tomorrow, where two candidates are running for office: Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, from the United Arab Emirates, who is accused of torture by British complainants and an NGO representing a political opponent currently being detained, and ?árka Havránková, from the Czech Republic, who is Vice-President of Interpol's European division. Can you tell us whether the EU member countries have consulted one another to determine a common course of (...)
Q: Iran has executed Arman Abdolali, who was 17 when he was arrested, in accordance with the "law of retaliation" requested by the victim's family. What's your reaction? A: France condemns the execution in Iran of Arman Abdolali, a minor when the crime was committed. The execution is contrary to the international commitments to which Iran itself has subscribed, in particular the international Convention on the Rights of the Child. It recalls its steadfast opposition to the death penalty, (...)
M. Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is paying a visit to Ireland on 25 and 26 November. The Minister Delegate will meet Mr Leo Varadkar, Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister. They will discuss the main European trade policy issues, a few weeks ahead of France's presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 January 2022. Alongside Irish Prime Minister Mr Micheál (...)
Hundreds of thousands of extra charge points in the pipeline with new laws to supercharge the electric vehicle revolution.
Via Teleconference 9:38 A.M. EDT MR. ROKER: Wow! Oh, hold on. My phone is ringing. Just a sec- - oh, my gosh! Look at who is calling. Hello? Hello, Mr. President? THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Al. How you doing, pal? THE FIRST LADY: Happy Thanksgiving. MR. ROKER: Oh, Dr. Biden and Mr. President, thank you so much. Happy Thanksgiving...
France congratulates Ms Caroline Ziadeh on her appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and assures her of its full support in carrying out her new mission. France reaffirms its full support for the action of UNMIK, which helps promote the strengthening of the rule of law and respect for human rights in Kosovo, in coordination with the initiatives of other regional and international (...)
France is holding the Presidency of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) from May 2021 to February 2022. This presidency provides the opportunity to strengthen regional solidarity, consolidate the economic integration of French territories in the Indian Ocean within their regional environment, and promote Francophonie. What is the Indian Ocean Commission? For more than 30 years, through La Réunion, France has been a member of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), alongside the Comoros, (...)
Thanksgiving provides us with a time to reflect on our many blessings - from God, this Nation, and each other. We are grateful for these blessings, even - and especially - during times of challenge. That is why George Washington declared a day of Thanksgiving for his troops as they marched into that dark winter at...
America's small businesses account for more than 40 percent of U.S. GDP, create two-thirds of net new jobs, and employ almost half of America's workers. However, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, America's aging infrastructure prevented too many small businesses from reaching their full potential. President Biden's historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will equip America's Main Street...
Q: Front Line Defenders has denounced the use of Pegasus, the NSO Group's spyware, against eminent Palestinian figures including Salah Hamouri, a French citizen. Will France join the United States in taking measures against the NSO Group's practices? Do you have any information on those in charge of spying on these Palestinian figures, all of whom are connected with six organizations that Israel placed on a terrorist list? R: With respect to NSO, as we have said before, the facts that have (...)
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke yesterday with his Nigerian counterpart, Geoffrey Onyeama. The two ministers applauded the high caliber of the relationship between France and Nigeria, an important partner for France in Africa. The economic relationship between our two countries has in particular grown stronger, especially via the launch of the France-Nigeria Business Council, as evidenced by French Development Agency projects relating to water access, (...)
