Francophonie – Conversation between Catherine Colonna and the Secretary-General of La Francophonie (Apr. 20, 2023)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna welcomed the Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, for discussions about the 21st Francophonie Summit, which France will host in Paris and Villers-Cotterêts in October 2024.

The Minister thanked Ms. Mushikiwabo for her leadership of La Francophonie. She reaffirmed France’s support for the Secretary-General’s efforts to transform the OIF and step up its initiatives to serve the people of French-speaking areas.

The Minister and the Secretary-General emphasized the high level of cooperation between France and the OIF and the high caliber of projects to teach and promote the French language, teacher mobility and women’s rights, as well as its work in the areas of digital technology and the cultural and creative industries.

Serbia – Meeting between Catherine Colonna and her Serbian counterpart (Apr. 20, 2023)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna will meet with Ivica Dačić, Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The two ministers will discuss bilateral relations between France and Serbia. Ms. Colonna will reiterate France’s support for Serbia’s European prospects, encouraging Serbia to continue the necessary reforms, including the alignment of its foreign policy with our common security.

She will underscore France’s commitment to dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, facilitated by the EU, and the need for both parties to implement without delay their commitments under the agreement signed in Ohrid on March 18. The establishment of an Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities in Kosovo is a key element of this agreement.

Yemen – Deadly stampede in Sanaa during food distribution (Apr. 20, 2023)

France offers its condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday’s accident in Sanaa, in which a stampede left at least 85 people dead and hundreds injured. This tragedy underscores the urgent need to end the suffering and the humanitarian crisis experienced by the Yemeni people by resolving the conflict in Yemen.

France commends the efforts by Saudi Arabia and Oman to bring about a comprehensive ceasefire and to revive political negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Houthis under the auspices of the UN. France particularly applauds the positive dynamic that led to the recent release of more than 900 prisoners, notably thanks to the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN.

France reaffirms its full support for the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, whose efforts are vital to achieving a comprehensive political settlement – the only way to bring about a lasting peace and to end the civil war that has been ravaging the country for more than eight years. To that end, France calls on all the parties, particularly the Houthis, to negotiate in good faith.