Tag Archives: France
25 September 2013
In his speech to the UN General Assembly, French President François Hollande proposed a ‘code of good conduct to for the Council’s permanent members: in the case of mass crimes they must renounce their right to a veto.’ Hollande said that in fields like security, proliferation, development and climate, ‘there is no worse danger than inaction’, and added that ‘It is the responsibility of the UN to act. And each time it reveals its impotence, peace loses.’
Also Chilean President Sebastián Piñera called for abandoning the veto of the five permanent members, and instituting a super-majority rule when adopting major decisions.
Source: UN News Centre | At UN, Chilean President tells permanent Security Council members to abandon veto
Source: International Law Prof Blog | France Calls on Permanent Members of the Security Council to Renounce Veto in Cases of Mass Crimes
Source: UN News Centre | France calls for strong UN resolution to enforce Syria’s surrender of chemical weapons
20 September 2013
A report published by international aid agency Oxfam reveals that many donor countries, including France, Qatar and Russia, are failing to provide their fair share of funding urgently needed to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The report calculates the level of funds expected from each donor based on a country’s Gross National Income and its overall wealth.
The UN’s five billion dollar appeal for Syria remains only forty-four per cent funded, and funding gaps are already affecting the ability of organisations to respond to humanitarian needs in the Syria crisis.
Source: BBC | Syris conflict: Oxfam highlights appeal donation 'failings'
Source: Al Jazeera | Report: Donor countries failing Syrians
Source: Oxfam International | Top donor countries failing ordinary Syrians affected by the conflict with Syria appeals falling short by US$2.7bn
23 August 2013
The French foreign minister Laurent Fabius warned Syria over a reaction of force from the international community if the Assad regime is proven to have used chemical weapons.
Fabius was reported saying the reaction could take any form of force, but ruled out the deployment of foreign ground troops, thereby suggesting the possibility of Western air strikes. The warning comes after the UN Security Council expressed strong concerns over the alleged use of lethal toxin in the attack on the outskirts of Damascus on 21 August, but failed to reach agreement on the best response.
Source: The Guardian | France warns Syria of forceful response over chemical weapon claims
Source: Al Jazeera | France warns Syria of forceful response
6 May 2013
On 22 March, the Versailles Court of Appeal ruled that international humanitarian law does not create direct obligations for a private company involved in a tramway building project in Jerusalem. The lawsuit was initiated in 2007 against the French company Alstom for violations of international law on the basis that the company provided equipment for a tramway building project in Jerusalem, supervised by the State of Israel. Alstom signed a concession contract with Israel. The Court considered that the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, Additional Protocol 1 to Geneva Conventions, the Hague regulations and the Hague Convention do not create direct obligations that may be placed upon private companies. The Court also held that, supposing that the Israel’s litigious concession contract constituted a violation of international law, this violation would not invalidate the contract (because the contract is governed by Israeli law and not by the French Civil Code).
Source: Cour D'appel de Versailles | Association France-Palestine Solidarite “AFPS” C/ Societe Alstom Transport SA | Code nac: 59A | 3ème chambre | R.G. N° 11/05331 | 22 Mars 2013 (in French)
Source: Rights as Usual | Backtracking on Responsibility: French Court Absolves Veolia for Unlawful Railway Construction in Occupied Territory
6 April 2013
France proposed keeping a French support force of 1.000 men to the United Nations and to the Malian government, which would be permanent, based in Mali and equipped to fight terrorism. Foreign Minister Fabius said that France was pushing ahead with plans to reduce its 4.000-member military presence from the end of April, but planned to maintain a permanent combat force in Mali to support a future UN peacekeeping mission.
Source: The New York Times | Mali: France Proposes Permanent Force