Via Teleconference 10:10 A.M. EST THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everyone. Obviously, this has been a year and a half, if not two years, of this phrase we rarely used before: "You're muted. Unmute." So, take two. It is good to be with all of you this morning. It's good to be with you. ...
Q: With regard to the China-Africa Summit in Dakar, how does France see the call by the Senegalese foreign minister for Chinese support in the Sahel? A: European and international partners are engaged in the Sahel at the request of the countries of the region in a common fight against terrorist groups and in accordance with resolutions passed by the Security Council, where China has a (...)
Q: Does France envisage shutting down flights to South Africa because of the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant? What are the recommendations for compatriots? A: I refer you to the press release issued by the Prime Minister on this point and to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' travel advisory webpage.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone today with Romanian Presidential Security Advisor Ion Oprisor to reinforce the strong cooperation between our countries on defense, resilience, and cybersecurity issues. They agreed on the importance of close coordination bilaterally and through NATO on Black Sea security. They also exchanged views on Russian military activities near...
Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will attend the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid on December 1. This meeting will include more than 70 tourism ministers, representatives of international organizations and civil society, and private sector leaders. The minister will reaffirm France's support for the UNWTO, a privileged international (...)
Q: The United States announced that it would release oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Aimed at lowering oil prices, this measure was taken "in coordination" with China, India, South Korea, Japan and Great Britain, according to their communiqué. Was France consulted? Do you have any comment? A: We were informed and we took note of the American authorities' decision to release oil from their strategic reserve. This is an issue that we are monitoring closely with our European partners (...)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a COVID-19 press conference (27 November 2021).
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 1:12 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Q Hello. MS. PSAKI: Happy post-Thanksgiving, salad-eating days, I guess. (Laughter.) Okay, a couple of items for all of you at the top. As you all know, today is Cyber Monday - one of the biggest shopping days of the year. The President will convene a roundtable...
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak chaired a roundtable with representatives from UK based pension funds, insurers and venture capital investors in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister recently (27 November 2021) confirmed new temporary and precautionary measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant in the UK.
Roosevelt Room 12:01 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, folks. I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving -- able to get together with your family and friends. And it was great to see so many families getting together this Thanksgiving after being apart last year. And we have much to be grateful for as...
Following up on the regular briefings he had on COVID while traveling, the President met in person today with his Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members of his White House COVID Response Team. Dr. Fauci and members of the COVID Response Team updated the President on the latest developments related to the Omicron...
Over these eight nights, Jews in the United States, Israel, and around the globe will proudly celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. They will light the menorah, spin the dreidel, eat latkes, and tell of how the Maccabees, guided by an abiding belief in their Creator and an inextinguishable commitment to their faith, prevailed...
The national emergency caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States continues to pose a grave threat to our health and security. As of November 26, 2021, the United States has experienced more than 47 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 773,000 COVID-19 deaths. It is the policy of my...
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 (...)
