15 mars 2011- Libye - Remarques à la presse de M. Gérard Araud, représentant permanent de la France auprès des Nations unies

Q : Tell us about the draft resolution

We have moved forward, we have presented a text. And there were questions, legitimate questions. All the countries are very helpful, I emphasize this point. Tomorrow we will start negotiations at 11am.

Q : What are the differences between the questions raised yesterday and the question raised today ?

The text in itself is the answer. Yesterday there were general questions. Now we have a text and therefore a lot of questions were answered by the text. Obviously not all the questions were answered so we will have a debate, paragraph by paragraph, as in a traditional negotiation. Again, around the table of the Security Council everybody was ready to engage in negotiations. Nobody blocked it, there was no refusal on principles.

Q : Who introduced the text ?

We worked with the UK and Lebanon.

Q : Do you expect a vote tomorrow ?

I am optimistic, I would hope to have a vote tomorrow but I doubt it because it is a long and technical text.

Q : Is a no-fly zone included in the text ?

That is what France wants.

Q : Why was there a change in the mood at the Security Council ?

There was no change in the mood. Yesterday there were questions because we were discussing on principles, there were no positions, countries had questions. There has been a misunderstanding as yesterday nobody was blocking. There were questions and a lot of countries were saying : "show us a text". So this is what we did. Now we are going to start the negotiation