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IRAN/NUCLEAR ISSUE

Q - Ms Rice has rejected the security guarantees for Iran proposed as part of the European incentives. Did you expect the American rejection?

I'm not going to speak for the United States. It's for the Americans to say what they can or cannot accept. What I can say is where we stand ourselves. We're in the process of putting the finishing touches, with our European partners, on this well-known package of incentives and dissuasive measures--because you shouldn't forget that aspect--which will be communicated to our American, Chinese and Russian partners. There's a meeting in London tomorrow for political directors at which the package will be discussed. At that time, the Americans, Russians and Chinese will be able to let us have their comments on the package, which has three sections: one section on civilian nuclear cooperation, one on the economic aspects and a third on the political aspects and security. But as I said, it's for the US to give its opinion, keeping in my mind that to my knowledge our discussions on the political and security aspects focus more, as I've already said, on ways of furthering dialogue and cooperation on these political and security questions in a regional framework. The European proposal is more that so it doesn't necessarily include what you referred to just now.

Q - Precisely, the Iranians are demanding specific assurances on security. Moreover, there's still no Iranian ambassador in Paris, and at the CAPE the chargé d'affaires said we had to ask the French. So where do matters stand?

With regard to the ambassador, according to my information, procedures have been started for appointing an Iranian ambassador to Paris. Things are moving forward. As to your first question, once again, in the European proposals there will be a political and security segment. Will this satisfy Iran's expectations? Iran will have to tell us once the package has been finalized and offered to the Iranians.

Q - Can you give us details about the economic, security and political sections?

My position is a bit sensitive since the meeting takes place in London tomorrow. There are to be discussions among the political directors. It's a paper that's normally confidential even though apparently it hasn't remained quite that. The ideas are those we've already mentioned: as regards the economic segment, relations in particular between the European Union and Iran, possibly aspects relating to the WTO, and ways of strengthening economic relations in certain areas; as for the political and security aspects, the idea, I repeat, is more to consider how to encourage a political and security dialogue in a regional context. You'll understand that I'm being careful because, as I just said, this will all be discussed in London tomorrow. So I can't tell you what's going to come out of these discussions.

Q - Are your American partners on the same wavelength as you?

I've already replied to a question on security guarantees. I said it's up to the Americans to give their position on this point, but I recalled that our discussions on the political and security segments are directed more to ways of developing dialogue and regional cooperation. We'll obviously be paying close attention tomorrow to the reactions of all our partners, Americans, Russians and Chinese, since tomorrow's meeting is being held precisely to hear reactions to the European proposals.

Q - Ms Rice disclosed she's thinking about an anti-missile system deployed in several Gulf states to counter the Iranian threat. Does that come under the concept you're envisioning for regional security with Iran?

We know proposals have been around for anti-missiles defense for several years in the United States. There's a whole discussion on it. That's a strategic choice by the United States which it's not for me to comment on specifically. But to answer your question, there is no link between that and the Europe proposals.

Q - Does the EU have a unified line on this question?

We've been working closely from the outset with our German and British partners, and the paper that is going to be presented is definitely one presented by all the Europeans.

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