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Statement by the Prosecutor Louise Arbour following her meeting with th French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hubert Vedrine.

Press Release . Communiqué de presse

(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)


OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR
BUREAU DU PROCUREUR

CC/PIO/275-E

The Hague, 15 December 1997


STATEMENT BY THE PROSECUTOR LOUISE ARBOUR

FOLLOWING HER MEETING WITH THE FRENCH MINISTER

OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Mr HUBERT VEDRINE


"Today, Monday, 15 December 1997, I had the pleasure to meet privately for more than one hour with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hubert Védrine. During this meeting, we reviewed the various aspects of co-operation between France and the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.


I reiterated to Mr Védrine the importance of the past and present contribution by the French authorities to the restoration and maintenance of peace in these two areas, and how much I wished that his country would continue to be involved in the consolidation of peace by supporting the difficult but indispensable mission entrusted by the United Nations to the Tribunals in Arusha and
in The Hague. While recognising that the French authorities had recently made efforts to improve the co-operation with the Tribunals, I said that this progress remains modest and expressed the hope that it would increase.


I asked Mr Védrine to intervene in order to effect a review of the position recently taken by the French Minister of Defence with regard to the potential testimony of French military before both International Tribunals. I hope that the French authorities will agree to discuss this fundamental issue with me in a spirit of co-operation, in conformity with international procedures and
in the interest of justice.


Regarding the arrest of indicted persons wanted by the Tribunal, I stressed the urgency of arrests taking place in all SFOR sectors as was carried out last July by British forces. I asked Mr Védrine to support the undertaking of such an initiative".


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