LATEST NEWS AND STATEMENTS

• United States – Tornado in Oklahoma City (21.05.13)

  France expresses its deep shock at the tragic consequences of the powerful tornado that hit the Oklahoma City area in the southern United States on May 20, leaving more than 90 people dead, according to the latest reports.

• United States – Abolition of the death penalty by the state of Maryland (03.05.13)

  France welcomes the abolition of the death penalty by the state of Maryland, following ratification by Governor Martin O’Malley of the bill passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate in March. Maryland thereby becomes the 18th U.S. state to put an end to this inhuman punishment.

• United States – Explosion in West (Texas) – Statement issued by the minister (18.04.13)

  "I was deeply shocked by the news of the explosion in a fertilizer plant which has plunged the town of West in Texas into mourning. My thoughts go out to the victims’ families, the injured and all those whose lives have been affected by this disaster. "

• Explosions in Boston (16.04.13)

  We have just learned that explosions in the city of Boston have, according to provisional reports, left two people dead and many others injured.

  At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the victims’ families and the injured.

• Visit to France by John Kerry, Secretary of State (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 27.03.13)

  Mr. Fabius and Mr. Kerry discussed first and foremost the situation in the Middle East in the aftermath of President Obama’s visit to the region. Mr. Fabius stressed the importance of making the peace process a priority, the need for the international community to become involved, and France’s willingness to play a major role.

• Visit to the United States by Hélène Conway-Mouret (21-25.03.13)

  Hélène Conway-Mouret, Minister Delegate for French Nationals Abroad, will travel to the United States today in order to participate in the annual consular meeting hosted by our ambassador which will bring together the 10 consuls general in the United States. More than 125,000 of our citizens are listed in the United States on the register of French citizens living outside France.

• United States – Forthcoming abolition of the death penalty in Maryland (18.03.13)

  France welcomes the decisive step taken by the Maryland General Assembly toward the abolition of the death penalty in this state, following the confirmation by the House of Representatives of the Senate vote in favor of the abolition. If the decision is endorsed by the governor, Maryland will become the 18th state in the United States to abolish the death penalty.

• United States – Execution of Frederick Treesh (06.03.13)

  France condemns the execution by lethal injection of Frederick Treesh in the state of Ohio on March 6, 2013. This is the 4th execution in the United States in 2013 and the 50th prisoner to be put to death in Ohio since the moratorium ended in 1999.

• United States – Execution of Carl Henry Blue (22.02.13)

  France condemns the execution of Carl Blue in the state of Texas, in the United States, on February 21. With 15 prisoners executed in 2012 and 493 executions since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, Texas is responsible for more than a third of executions in the United States.

• Visit to France by John Kerry (27.02.13)

  M. Fabius and his counterpart discussed the situation in Mali, on which we are cooperating very closely. In particular, they will talk about the prospects of restarting negotiations for the Middle East peace process, the situation in Syria, Iran’s nuclear programme, the stabilization of Afghanistan and the North Korea issue.

• United States – Execution of Robert Gleason in Virginia (16.01.13)

  France condemns the execution by electrocution of Robert Gleason in Virginia on January 16, 2013. This is the first execution in the United States in 2013 and the first time the death penalty has been used in Virginia since August 2011.

• United States - Appointment of John Kerry as Secretary of State of the United States of America – Statement by Laurent Fabius (21.12.12)

  "I offer my warmest congratulations to John Kerry, whom President Obama has appointed to succeed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. The French are aware of his competence, his experience on difficult international issues, and his qualities as a man of dialogue. I also know how personally committed he is to Franco-American friendship."

• United States – Shooting in a school in Connecticut (14.12.12)

  In these tragic circumstances which have plunged America into mourning, France would like to express its wholehearted solidarity with the American authorities and people and to extend its condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

• United States – Execution of a prisoner in Oklahoma (04.12.12)

  France condemns the execution in Oklahoma of George Ochoa on December 4. This is the 6th execution this year in Oklahoma, making it one of the states with the highest death penalty rate in the United States.

• France-Atlanta 2012 gathered over 4,700 participants around 15 french american events (27.11.12)

  Inaugurated on October 25, 2012 with an official reception at the Melia Hotel bringing together about 400 guests in the presence of the Ambassador of France to the United States, the Mayor of Atlanta, the President of Georgia Tech and, for the first time, the Governor of Georgia, the series of events “France-Atlanta: Together Towards Innovation” animated the Georgia capital for more than two weeks.

• United States – Execution of two prisoners in Texas (14-15.10.12)

  France condemns the execution on November 14 and 15 in Texas of Ramon Torres Hernandez and Preston Hughes. Texas, which has executed 15 prisoners in 2012 and 492 prisoners since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, is responsible for more than a third of executions in the United States.

• United States - Execution of Brett Xavier Hartman (13.11.12)

  France condemns the execution on November 13 of Brett Xavier Hartman in the state of Ohio. This is the third execution in this state since the lifting of a six-month de-facto moratorium.

• American presidential election – Interview given by Laurent Fabius to France 2 (07.11.12)

  "It’s good news, because I think President Obama is the person most capable of tackling the challenges awaiting Americans: fiscal problems, employment problems, immigration problems. And it’s good news for France, too, because we have excellent relations with the Obama administration, and because together we’re going to try and tackle the existing crises: Syria, Iran, Israel-Palestine, terrorism. So it’s a positive day."

• United States – Execution of a prisoner in South Dakota (30.10.12)

  France urges the authorities of South Dakota to reinstate the moratorium and to engage in a debate on the abolition of the death penalty. As Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, solemnly declared at the launch of the campaign for the universal abolition of the death penalty, France reaffirms its constant opposition to the death penalty, everywhere and under all circumstances.

• Hurricane Sandy – Statement by Laurent Fabius (30.10.12)

  "In view of the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, I want to express my wholehearted solidarity with the American people, who, after the Caribbean countries, are going through a particularly difficult time. I offer the families of the victims my most sincere condolences. France remains at the US authorities’ disposal to provide any assistance they deem necessary."

• Passage of Hurricane Sandy (29.10.12)

  Our embassy in the United States and our consulates general in Atlanta, Boston, New York and Washington are fully mobilized to help our compatriots in the region, who are urged to exercise the utmost caution, particularly when travelling.

• France-Atlanta 2012 is around the corner ! (25.10-10.11.12)

  For the last three years now, the Consulate General of France in Atlanta and the Georgia Institute of Technology have presented a series of multidisciplinary events centered on innovation and designed to breathe new life into the French-American cooperation in the U.S. Southeast: France-Atlanta.

• Laurent Fabius Received Fulbright Scholars and Chateaubriand Fellows (01.10.12)

  Created by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright after World War II, the Fulbright Scholar Program is managed by the Franco-American Commission. Financed by France and the United States, this commission is responsible for facilitating academic and cultural exchanges in order to promote mutual understanding between the two countries and promote dialogue between their civil societies. Again this year, the 2012 class highlights dialogue, both in the field of research and in the field of culture.

• Impressionism and Fashion, a joint French and US exhibition (September 2012)

  Organised by the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago, the exhibition Impressionism and Fashion promises to be one of the major cultural events of the autumn in Paris and of the coming year in the United States. Bringing together these two high points of French culture, which arouse the keenest interest abroad, is a rewarding idea!

• Curiosity - French-U.S cooperation - Interview with CNES President Yannick d’Escatha and JPL’s Director Charles Elachi in CnesMag (July 2012)

  On 6 August, the Curiosity rover landed on the surface of Mars, in Gale Crater, for a two-year mission. For 90 Mars days or ‘sols’, engineers at CNES and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will work together to drive this exceptional laboratory. CNES President Yannick d’Escatha and JPL’s Director Charles Elachi explain the importance of the mission and the technology challenges it is facing.

• United States - Execution of Marvin Wilson (08.08.12)

  His execution runs counter to internationally established guarantees protecting the rights of people who are eligible for the death penalty, including the principle of not executing individuals who are mentally impaired.

• United States - Foie gras (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 28.06.12)

  France can only regret California’s decision. We will continue to appeal, in all appropriate forums, for compliance with international law.

• United States – Abolition of the death penalty in the state of Connecticut (26.04.12)

  France hails the abolition of the death penalty in the state of Connecticut following Governor Dannel Malloy’s signature on April 25 of the bill adopted by the state legislature.

  Connecticut thus becomes the 17th U.S. state to renounce this cruel and inhuman treatment.

• Stolen Pissarro painting returned to France (03.02.2012)

  On January 25, the US customs service returned to France a rare color monotype by French painter Camille Pissarro. Entitled “The Fish Market,” this work had been stolen from the Faure Museum in Aix-les-Bains (South-East of France) in 1981.