French Foreign Minister Fabius Addresses AJC Global Forum

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Laurent Fabius, foreign minister of France, delivered a powerful speech to the AJC Global Forum on the Iranian nuclear threat, efforts to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace, the war in Syria and rising anti-Semitism. He addressed the opening session of the Global Forum, attended by more than 2,000 from across the U.S. and more than 70 other countries, including a delegation from CRIF, the central organization of French Jewry.

With the July 20 deadline to achieve a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear program looming, Fabius was clear on his country's firm posture. "France wants an agreement, but it is clear that we shall not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons," he said.  "The P5+1 group must remain united" in negotiations to "guarantee the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian program."

On the Syria civil war, Fabius said France is determined to "halt the regime's attempt to gain control by military force, with the help of Iran and Russia." He called Assad's re-election effort "a tragic farce devoid of any legitimacy."

Fabius also stressed that the Syria conflict has global security implications. The growing power of terrorist groups "is a threat to the whole world because the jihadist networks will not stop at their borders."

Fabius expressed support for Secretary Kerry's efforts to achieve a negotiated Israeli-Palestinian peace, and France's support for resuming the talks. "The security of Israel is by no means negotiable," said Fabius, "but we know that it would be reinforced by a negotiated settlement."

Fabius's appearance at the AJC Global Forum comes at a time of rising anti-Semitism across Europe, and the foreign minister acknowledged that France is not immune. But he declared that racism and anti-Semitism "constitute a violation of human dignity," and reaffirmed that his government is taking actions to counter such hate.

Even one act of anti-Semitism "represents a blow to France," he said. "France has assembled a legal arsenal which places it at the forefront of the struggle," including a measure to counter racist content on the internet.

He also spoke about Holocaust remembrance, noting that the year 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the last departure from France of a train carrying deportees to the Nazi camps. Since President Chirac declared, in 1995, French responsibility for the deportations, compensation mechanisms have been established for victims.

France is also seeking to establish, in cooperation with the U.S. government, "compensation for Holocaust victims deported from France who were not eligible for benefits of the French reparation regime," he said. "These negotiations, which aim in particular to respond to issues raised before American courts, are being carried out in a constructive manner and are progressing rapidly."

AJC leaders last met with Fabius in February at the Foreign Ministry in Paris. AJC maintains an office in Paris, headed by Simone Rodan-Benzaquen.

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SOURCE American Jewish Committee