FRANCE-SHOOTING/HOLLANDE-AMBASSADORS Hollande says France is waging a "war against hatred"

Record ID: 324377

  • Title: FRANCE-SHOOTING/HOLLANDE-AMBASSADORS Hollande says France is waging a "war against hatred"
  • Date: 16th January 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 16, 2015) (AGENCY POOL) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE ARRIVING CEILING OF HALL (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "No matter our opinions, no matter our disagreements, we have proved the unity of the international community to face a common enemy which has a name, and that we have to name: terrorism. We are at war against it. It is not a war against a religion. It is a war against hatred. The attacks committed in Paris are an insult to Islam. And in the world, it is the Muslims, I keep repeating this, who are the first victims of terrorism. Not the only ones, alas." PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "But this strength, the strength of the French people, will be put to work in the fight against terrorism which will be reinforced, in the respect of law by the law. France is emerging from this ordeal with its determination intact to act on an international level. We are not conceding anything. We are not susceptible to any pressure, no matter where it comes from. We are not afraid." PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "France wants a final agreement, not just under any conditions, but with a clear approach. Yes to Iran's access to civil nuclear energy, no to its access to nuclear weapons. We won't compromise on that principle. We want an agreement but an agreement that leads to this result." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "There will be a meeting in Astana only if there are results. We have several goals. First, the delimitation of the boundary line, the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the means to deliver humanitarian aid in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and then allowing elections in eastern Ukraine in accordance with Ukrainian law. These conditions are not unattainable and we must work on this. That is what I am doing in harmony with the Chancellor (Angela Merkel)." HOLLANDE LEAVING THE STAGE AND GREETING DIPLOMATS AND AMBASSADORS
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9YMAY6BH0OB7MR7I5GJ95K04N
  • Story Text: French President Francois Hollande said on Friday (January 16) France was at war with hatred, not with religion and that the common enemy was terrorism.
    Addressing foreign diplomats at the Elysee Palace, Hollande spoke of the Islamist attacks last week - one on the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly and the other at a Jewish supermarket in the French capital. There were 17 victims from last week's events, in which the three attackers also died.
    "No matter our opinions, no matter our disagreements, we have proved the unity of the international community to face a common enemy which has a name, and that we have to name: terrorism. We are at war against it. It is not a war against a religion. It is a war against hatred. The attacks committed in Paris are an insult to Islam. And in the world, it is the Muslims, I keep repeating this, who are the first victims of terrorism. Not the only ones, alas," Hollande said.
    The French President said his country was determined to 'fight against terrorism' and that France would continue its anti-terrorism operations in Iraq and northern Africa despite threats of retaliation.
    "But this strength, the strength of the French people, will be put to work in the fight against terrorism which will be reinforced, in the respect of law by the law. France is emerging from this ordeal with its determination intact to act on an international level. We are not conceding anything. We are not susceptible to any pressure, no matter where it comes from. We are not afraid," he said.
    On the talks on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, Hollande said he wanted an agreement with a "clear approach".
    "France wants a final agreement, not just under any conditions, but with a clear approach. Yes to Iran's access to civil nuclear energy, no to its access to nuclear weapons. We won't compromise on that principle. We want an agreement but an agreement that leads to this result," he said.
    Iran and six world powers have renewed their quest for an elusive nuclear deal - seen as crucial to reducing the risk of a wider Middle East war - after negotiators failed for the second time in November to meet a self-imposed deadline.
    The sought-after agreement, whose new deadline is June 30, would gradually lift tough financial and trade sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic since 2006 in exchange for verifiable limits on its enrichment of uranium to ensure it cannot be put to developing nuclear weapons.
    On Ukraine, Hollande said a four-way summit between France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine would not take place until there was real progress on the Minsk peace plan.
    "There will be a meeting in Astana only if there are results. We have several goals. First the delimitation of the boundary line, the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the means to deliver humanitarian aid in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and then allowing elections in eastern Ukraine in accordance with Ukrainian law. These conditions are not unattainable and we must work on this," Hollande said, adding this decision had been made "in harmony" with German Chancellor Angela Merkel."
    A meeting had been planned in the Kazakh capital for January 15, but was postponed with no new date set.
    More than 4,700 people have been killed in fighting between Kiev's forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine since last April. The conflict has provoked the worst crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the Cold War.
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