Untitled Document
Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development Spokesperson (Paris, April 8, 2015)

â¢ Ukraine â Meeting between Laurent Fabius and his Ukrainian counterpart

â¢ Launch of TV5monde Style HD by Laurent Fabius

â¢ European Union â Germany - Harlem DÃ©sirâs visit to the headquarters of BASF France during the open house of the Office franco-allemand pour la jeunesse

â¢ Jamaica â Economic diplomacy â Awarding of Kingston container terminal concession to CMA-CGM

â¢ Germany - âEchoes of Franceâ and âJazzahead!â trade show (Bremen, April 9-26)

Ukraine â Meeting between Laurent Fabius and his Ukrainian counterpart

Foreign minister Laurent Fabius is meeting this afternoon with Pavlo Klimkin, his Ukrainian counterpart.

They will discuss the follow-up to the Minsk agreement of February 12.

They will also work on strengthening the most important aspects of our bilateral relationship and will lay the groundwork for President Petro Poroshenkoâs Paris visit on April 22.

Launch of TV5monde Style HD by Laurent Fabius

Laurent Fabius visited the offices of TV5Monde today to launch the networkâs latest venture, a new lifestyle channel called TV5Monde Style HD.

In French with English, Mandarin and Arabic subtitles, this channel will initially broadcast in the Middle East/Maghreb and in the Asia/Pacific.

It will feature programs on every aspect of French and Francophone lifestyle: culture, history, architecture, hotels, design, fashion, luxury, gastronomy, etc.

A showcase for our savoir-faire and the excellence of our creators and companies, this network â carried by all French-language partners of TV5 Monde â is fully synergistic with the aims of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in terms of influence, economic diplomacy, and Franceâs attractiveness to tourists.

European Union â Germany - Harlem DÃ©sirâs visit to the headquarters of BASF France during the open house of the Office franco-allemand pour la jeunesse

European Affairs minister Harlem DÃ©sir is going to Levallois today for the open house of the Office franco-allemand pour la jeunesse (French-German Youth Office).

At the headquarters of BASF France, he will meet with students from the Claude Debussy d'Aulnay-sous-Bois middle school (priority education network of Seine-Saint-Denis).

Coming just days after the 17th Council of French and German ministers in Berlin, this event will help young people better understand the concrete benefits of a dual French-German culture by showcasing companies operating in both countries.

Jamaica â Economic diplomacy â Awarding of Kingston container terminal concession to CMA-CGM

On April 7, the French shipbuilder Compagnie maritime d'affrÃ¨tement-Compagnie gÃ©nÃ©rale maritime (CMA-CGM) signed a 30-year concession for the Kingston container terminal. Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller attended the signing ceremony with the Presidentâs personal representative for Latin American and the Caribbean, Jean-Pierre Bel.

The awarding of the concession reflects the strengthening of ties between our two countries since the meeting, last June 16, between Laurent Fabius and his Jamaican counterpart, Arnold Nicholson. That was the first meeting between French and Jamaican foreign ministers since Jamaica gained its independence in 1962.

Valued at nearly 600 million euros, this initiative aims to make Kingston one of the Caribbeanâs five main ports. It is the largest investment project by a French company in the region, and its location will be particularly strategic with the Panama Canal expansion slated for 2016.

Germany - âEchoes of Franceâ and âJazzahead!â trade show (Bremen, April 9-26)

France is the country of honor at the 10th edition of the Jazzahead! trade show in Bremen from April 23-26. Considered Europeâs largest professional gathering focused on jazz and improvisational music, this show welcomes more than 3,000 participants each year.

Ahead of this event, the multidisciplinary âEchoes of FranceâÂ festival, running from April 9 to 23 with the support of Bremenâs Institut franÃ§ais, will present various facets of French culture in the fields of dance, theater, film and literature. Opening day performances will feature singer Emily Loiseau, trumpet player Erik Truffaz and the hip-hop dancers of âBlack, blanc, beur.â

Jazzahead! will recognize the importance of French jazz, with more than 100 artists featured in 20 concerts for the general public and music professionals.

For more information, visit http://www.institutfrancais.de/bremen/?lang=fr.