ASFE Association, Always at your side when abroad

Q : Belarusian activist Vitaly Shishov was found hanged in Kiev. His NGO is denouncing it as a planned operation by President Aleksandr Lukashenko's regime. What is France's response?
A : Following the death of Belarusian opposition figure Vitaly Shishov in Kiev, our thoughts of course go out first of all to his family and friends. We are currently awaiting the conclusions of the investigation by the Ukrainian authorities aimed at shedding light on this tragic (…)

Q : Is France prepared to issue a visa to Belarusian sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya and allow her to enter the country before a decision regarding political asylum has been taken?
A : Given the situation, it would be an honor for Europe to receive Ms. Timanovskaya as soon as possible and to grant her political asylum.
Beyond that, France intends to resolutely continue, in coordination and in solidarity with the member states of the European Union, to lend its support to the Belarusian (…)

France welcomes the official statement issued by the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission on July 30 announcing the reopening of the coastal road between Sirte and Misrata. This is a major step forward in the implementation of the ceasefire signed on October 23, 2020, and on the path toward a political transition in Libya.
The reopening of the coastal road reflects the determination of all the Joint Military Commission's participants to act constructively to implement the ceasefire (…)

On the World Day against Trafficking in Persons (30 July), France underlines its strong commitment to combating this serious form of crime and human rights violation. Such trafficking, which is thought to generate up to $150 billion in global annual revenue, also represents a global security issue, fuelling corruption, irregular migration and terrorism.
As such, France has made combating this scourge a fully-fledged public policy. After adopting its first national action plan in 2014, (…)

On 31 July 2021, the President of the Republic, Mr Emmanuel Macron, spoke with the Prime Minister of Sudan, Mr Abdalla Hamdok, and then with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr Abiy Ahmed. These conversations were an opportunity to highlight France's concern about the increasing fighting in the north of Ethiopia and the evolution of the humanitarian situation in Tigray.
The President said that the very serious humanitarian situation and the need to deliver assistance to the people of Tigray (…)

Q : The Lebanese national dialogue has been stalled, and for nine months now the Lebanese leaders have been unable to form a government. The country is experiencing an unprecedented catastrophic economic crisis, as well an extremely critical health situation. 1)Under these circumstances, is France considering proposing the idea of an informal meeting (based on the Celle-Saint-Cloud format) in order to accelerate efforts to resolve the crisis and help form a government, which should precede (…)

France strongly condemns the deadly offensive launched by the Syrian regime with help from its supporters against the town of Dara'a, one of the symbols of the suffering endured by the Syrian people over the course of the 10-year conflict.
This attack confirms that without a credible political process, Syria, including the areas under the regime's control, will not return to stability. There can be no lasting military solution to the Syrian conflict. The only way to put an end to the Syrian (…)

Moscow, Paris, Washington DC, 29 July 2021 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Stephane Visconti of France, Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, and Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation) made the following statement:
The Co-Chairs view with concern recent incidents along the Armenia - Azerbaijan border, including reports of casualties and the loss of life. The Co-Chairs call upon Armenia and Azerbaijan to de-escalate the situation immediately, refrain from provocative (…)

France is delighted by the inscription of four new cultural and natural properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The members of the World Heritage Committee, meeting at its 44th session in Fuzhou, China, from July 16-31, took these decisions unanimously.
Since the 16th century, the Cordouan lighthouse, built on a rocky plateau in the Atlantic at the mouth of the Gironde Estuary, has served as a beacon for commercial vessels sailing between Bordeaux and the rest of the world. The Great (…)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, received Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, on July 28 in Paris.
The ministers called for the continued strengthening of bilateral relations between France and Saudi Arabia. They discussed regional issues of common interest.
With respect to Iran, Jean-Yves Le Drian reaffirmed the urgent need for Tehran to return to the negotiating table in order to conclude the discussions in Vienna. The (…)