Scotland/Foreign Affairs

Russia - Tenth anniversary of the assassination of Boris Nemtsov (27 Feb. 2025)

Today, February 27, France pays homage to the opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was brutally assassinated near the Kremlin in Moscow in 2015. His courage and his tireless fight for democracy and fundamental freedoms, which serve as a source of inspiration for many Russians and non-Russians alike, resonate more than ever at a time of growing repression of the opposition, civil society and independent media in Russia. Ten years after Nemtsov's death, the individuals who ordered his (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 28 2025

Samoa - Opening of the French Embassy (28 Feb. 2025)

For the first time since 2011, France has had the pleasure of opening a new embassy in its network, in Samoa in February 2025. This new embassy increases France's sizeable diplomatic network in the region, alongside our five existing bilateral embassies in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu and the action carried out by Véronique Roger-Lacan, the regional ambassador, Permanent Secretary for the Pacific. Above all, this is our first embassy in the Polynesia area and thus (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 28 2025

Samoa - Opening of the French Embassy (28 Feb. 2025)

Updated: Fri Feb 28 2025

Syria - National Dialogue Conference (27 Feb. 2025)

France takes positive note of the organization of a National Dialogue Conference in Damascus on February 24 and 25. This constitutes the first step toward establishing a culture of dialogue for all Syrians. France notes the announcement of plans to create a representative legislative council, adopt a constitutional declaration for the transition period, and create a constitutional committee tasked with drafting the future constitution. France recalls its commitment to the principles (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 28 2025

Thailand - Deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China (28 Feb. 2025)

France deeply regrets the Thai authorities' decision – despite the representations we made with our European partners – to deport 40 members of the Uyghur community to China. This decision is contrary to the principle of non-refoulement and to Thailand's international commitments. France reiterates its commitment to the respect of human rights and fundamental liberties around the (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 28 2025

Israel/Palestinian Territories - Death of Ohad Yahalomi (27 Feb. 2025)

France was deeply saddened to learn of the death of our compatriot Ohad Yahalomi, following the return of his remains to the Israeli authorities by Hamas. It extends its sincerest condolences to his family and close friends, with a special thought for his son Eitan, released in November 2023 after 51 days in captivity. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' teams are in close contact with our compatriot's family to support them in this ordeal. France lost 50 of its nationals following (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 27 2025

Israel / Palestinian Territories - Israeli operations in the West Bank (26 Feb. 2025)

France expresses its concern over stepped up Israeli military operations in the Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas camps in the northern West Bank, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties. France calls on the Israeli authorities to exercise the utmost restraint in the use of force and to ensure the protection of civilian populations, in accordance with international humanitarian law. These operations have reportedly already resulted in the displacement of 40,000 Palestinians. France (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 26 2025

Photo exhibition “STAND WITH UKRAINE. France's humanitarian action in Ukraine” (24 Feb. 2025)

The photo exhibition “STAND WITH UKRAINE. France's humanitarian action in Ukraine” will be on display in Paris on the railings of the Quai d'Orsay from 24 February 2025. The names of the people presented in this exhibition are Ievgeniia, Diana, Serhii and Yuliia. Their lives have been affected by the war and its devastation. Uprooting, precarity, family separations and obstacles to health care and education have deteriorated their living conditions and physical and mental health, and (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 26 2025

United Nations - Ukraine - Resolutions adopted at the United Nations General Assembly at the three-year mark of the war

On 24 February 2025, three years to the day since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly of the United Nations expressed its support for Ukraine, its sovereignty and its territorial integrity by adopting two successive resolutions that reaffirm these principles and the primacy of international law. It called for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations. As it has steadfastly done for three years, France (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 25 2025

Work of the France-Cameroon Multidisciplinary Joint Committee (5 Feb. 2025)

The France-Cameroon Multidisciplinary Joint Committee on the role and commitment of France and Cameroon in combating separatist and opposition movements between 1945 and 1971 submitted its work to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, at a handover ceremony in two phases, beginning in Paris on 21 January 2025 and ending in Yaoundé on 28 January. This Committee was co-chaired by French researcher Karine Ramondy and (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 25 2025

Russia - Q&A (24.02.25)

Q : What is the Quai d'Orsay's reaction following the launching of projectiles at the Russian Consulate General in Marseille? A : France condemns all attacks on the security of diplomatic premises. These premises are protected by the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations that France is strongly committed to fully implementing. The inviolability, protection and integrity of diplomatic and consular premises, as well as their personnel, are fundamental principles of (…)

Updated: Mon Feb 24 2025

Sentencing of Laurent Vinatier by Russian authorities (24.02.25)

On October 14, 2024, French citizen Laurent Vinatier was arbitrarily sentenced to three years in prison for not having registered as a “foreign agent.” On February 24, this extremely severe sentence was upheld on appeal on the basis of legislation against supposed “foreign agents.” On October 22, the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgment stating that this legislation contributes to the systematic violation of fundamental freedoms in Russia, such as freedom of association, freedom of (…)

Updated: Mon Feb 24 2025

China - Q&A - Extract from the press briefing (21 Feb. 2025)

Q: During a live broadcast yesterday, President Macron said: “You who don't want China to challenge Taiwan or others – how do you explain that China doesn't have the right to invade Taiwan but Russia has the right to invade Ukraine ?” In that regard, can you tell us if the French government still recognizes UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, particularly with regard to support for the “One China” principle? And how should we understand the President's use of the word “invade,” in this context (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 21 2025

Iran - Death penalty (20 Feb. 2025)

France utterly condemns the 975 executions that took place in Iran in 2024. These executions are the symbol of the ruthless crackdown against all those who dare express the Iranian people's legitimate aspirations for freedom. France and its partners call on the Iranian authorities to put an end to these executions and death sentences. France reaffirms its opposition to the death penalty in all places and in all (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 20 2025

Israel / Palestinian Territories - Hamas returns the bodies of four Israeli hostages (20 Feb. 2025)

France witnessed today's return to Israel of the remains of Oded Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, with overwhelming sadness. We offer our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones. We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the families of all the hostages and with the people of Israel in the wake of the barbaric acts committed by Hamas in the worst anti-Semitic massacre since the Holocaust. Our thoughts go out in particular to the loved ones of our (…)

Updated: Thu Feb 20 2025

Lebanon - Withdrawal of Israeli defence forces from southern Lebanon (18 Feb. 2025)

France notes the continued withdrawal of the Israel Defence Forces from southern Lebanon. It is an important step in implementing the commitments made under the cessation of hostilities concluded between Lebanon and Israel on 26 November 2024. France notes that the Israel Defence Forces maintain a presence at five positions on Lebanese territory. It reiterates the need for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanese territory as soon as possible, in accordance with the (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 19 2025

United States - M. Jean-Noël Barrot’s meeting with his counterpart (18 Feb. 2025)

Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke to Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State. Their counterparts in the Quint (Italy, Germany, United Kingdom) and the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, also participated in the discussion. They talked about today's meeting in Saudi Arabia between the US Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Following on from the discussions between US President Donald Trump and French (…)

Updated: Wed Feb 19 2025

Joint statement on the first anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s death (16 Feb. 2025)

On the anniversary of Alexei Navalny's death, which followed years of persecution by the Kremlin, we again extend our condolences to his family. We reiterate that the ultimate responsibility for his death lies with the Russian authorities. One year on, Russia's dire human rights record continues to deteriorate. The Kremlin crushes peaceful dissent, maintains a climate of fear and undermines the rule of law. All to serve its own interests. As we reflect on Navalny's enduring legacy, we continue (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 18 2025

New President of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Collège de Terminologie et de Néologie (14 Feb. 2025)

Following on from the 19th Francophone Summit and the 30th anniversary of the Toubon Law governing the use of the French language, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is continuing its efforts to promote the French language and ensure that it plays a central role in international relations. The Ministry is committed to creating and popularizing French terms and expressions for new concepts with foreign names via its Collège de Terminologie et de Néologie [“College of Terminology and (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 18 2025

Syria - Return of three French children (18 Feb. 2025)

On February 17, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs organized the return to France of three French children who were in a Damascus orphanage. We are thrilled that these children are being reunited with their loved ones. France wants to thank its partners, whose cooperation made it possible to bring these children home.

Updated: Tue Feb 18 2025

UAE - Conversation between Jean-Noël Barrot and his Emirati counterpart (18 Feb. 2025)

On February 17, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot spoke with his Emirati counterpart, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two Ministers hailed the signing of a joint framework agreement on AI during a visit by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to Paris on February 6. This agreement provides for investments by a consortium of French-Emirati “champions” with the aim of creating a 1 GW campus (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 18 2025

Ukraine - OPCW report on the use of riot control agents as a method of warfare (18 Feb. 2025)

France was deeply concerned by the report issued by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on February 14 confirming the use of a chemical agent in three incidents in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region last year: near the village of Marivka on October 2, and near the village of Illinka on October 12 and 14. This is the OPCW's second report highlighting the presence of riot control agents on the front line and follows numerous accounts by Ukraine of violations of the (…)

Updated: Tue Feb 18 2025

China - Jean-Noël Barrot’s meeting with his counterpart (15.02.25)

M. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had a meeting on Saturday 15 February with Mr Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The two ministers emphasized their commitment to bilateral dialogue between France and China in order to propose responses to the current crises. Among other (…)

Updated: Mon Feb 17 2025

Canada - M. Jean-Noël Barrot’s meeting with his counterpart (13.02.25)

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs had a meeting on 13 February with his new Lebanese counterpart, Mr Youssef Raggi, on the sidelines of the Paris international conference on Syria. He warmly congratulated him on his appointment to the government that Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam formed on 8 February. The Minister reaffirmed France's full support for the process of change begun by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, aimed at putting Lebanon back on the (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 14 2025

Egypt - Conversation between Jean-Noël Barrot and his Egyptian counterpart (13.02.25)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot spoke with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, on the sidelines of the Paris Conference on Syria held on February 13. During their conversation, the two Ministers reaffirmed their shared desire to work to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza, ensure the release of all hostages and secure a lasting peace based on the two-State solution – the only thing capable of guaranteeing the Israelis' and Palestinians' legitimate aspirations for (…)

Updated: Fri Feb 14 2025