„Based on a report I requested from our Consul General in Turkey, who informed me of sexual violence, exposure to the cold, beatings, and repeated humiliation of French nationals, all of these acts are likely to constitute criminal offences (and) I decided yesterday to refer the matter to the public prosecutor,“ Barrot told France Inter radio.
Archiv: Jean-Noël Barrot
Former diplomats accuse French foreign minister of disinformation over UN envoy Albanese
A group of 151 former ministers, ambassadors, and diplomats accused the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, of spreading disinformation on Wednesday (18 February), and called for a correction to comments he made about the United Nations rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese.
Their open letter concerns Barrot’s citing of a manipulated version of remarks by Albanese, which were made at the Al Jazeera Media Forum on 7 February.
Special Procedures’ Coordination Committee condemns attacks against Francesca Albanese by State representatives: ‚Promote justice, not disinformation‘
“States claiming to uphold human rights, justice and the rule of law should invest their time and energy in holding to account perpetrators of egregious human rights violations, rather than targeting those investigating and exposing international crimes in an objective way,” the Committee said.
The Committee reminded States that the Special Rapporteur is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to “investigate Israel’s violations of the principles and bases of international law, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War … in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967.”
“Instead of demanding Ms Albanese’s resignation for performing her mandate in very challenging circumstances – including persistent intimidation, coordinated personal attacks and unlawful unilateral sanctions – these Government representatives should join forces to hold accountable, including before the International Criminal Court, leaders and officials accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza,” the Committee said.
Independent UN body condemns ‚vicious attacks‘ on UN expert on Palestinian rights
The UN Coordination Committee – a body of six independent experts which coordinates and facilitates the work of Special Rapporteurs – accused European ministers of relying on „manufactured facts“.
„Instead of demanding Ms Albanese‘s resignation for performing her mandate…these government representatives should join forces to hold accountable, including before the International Criminal Court, leaders and officials accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza,“ the Committee said.
Global: European states must retract outrageous attacks on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese
(February 13, 2026)
“It is reprehensible that ministers in Austria, Czechia, France, Germany and Italy have attacked the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, based on a deliberately truncated video to misrepresent and gravely misconstrue her messages – as is clear from watching her original address in its entirety.
“The ministers that have spread disinformation must act beyond merely deleting their comments on social media – as some have done. They must publicly apologize and retract any calls for Francesca Albanese’s resignation. Their governments must also investigate how this disinformation happened with a view to preventing such situations.
“If only these ministers had been as loud and forceful in confronting a state committing genocide, unlawful occupation and apartheid as they have in attacking a UN expert. Their cowardice and refusal to hold Israel accountable stand in stark contrast to the Special Rapporteur’s unwavering commitment to speaking truth to power.
Genozid in Gaza: Albanese wider besseres Wissen am Pranger
Johann Wadephul und Jean-Noël Barrot werfen Albanese vor, sie habe Israel als »Feind der Menschheit« bezeichnet. Was aber hat sie tatsächlich gesagt im Interview mit Al-Dschasira? Die Gruppe »United Staff for Gaza«, ein Zusammenschluss ehemaliger und aktueller UN-Mitarbeiter, publizierte am Sonnabend eine klare Unterstützungserklärung und veröffentlichte das angeprangerte Zitat im Original: »Das System der globalen Komplizenschaft mit dem Völkermord – auf der Basis von finanziellen Interessen, Algorithmen der sozialen Medien und des Waffenhandels – ist inzwischen offen einsehbar für jeden und es hat sich entblößt als allgemeiner Feind der Menschheit.«
France calls for Francesca Albanese, UN rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, to resign
(February 12, 2026)
He never wavered. Speaking from the Assemblée Nationale on Wednesday, February 11, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stood to condemn in the name of France and without „any reservation, the outrageous and reprehensible remarks of Francesca Albanese.“ Barrot called for the resignation of the United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories.
Caroline Yadan, the lawmaker for the 8th constituency of French citizens abroad, which includes Israel, nodded in agreement from her seat in the chamber. She had questioned the foreign minister during the government questions session about the case of this UN expert,
Exclusive: European ministers to hold nuclear talks with Iran on Friday in Geneva, source says
(June 18, 2025)
The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Britain plan to hold nuclear talks with their Iranian counterpart on Friday in Geneva, a German diplomatic source told Reuters.
The ministers will first meet with the European Union‘s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, at Germany‘s permanent mission in Geneva before holding a joint meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, the source said.
France warns Trump against threatening EU ‘sovereign borders’ after Greenland comments
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he did not believe the U.S. would invade the vast Arctic island that has been part of Denmark for over 600 years.
„There is obviously no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders, whoever they are,“ he told France Inter radio. „We are a strong continent.“
Controversy as Syria‘s de-facto ruler declines to shake hands with German FM Annalena Baerbock
Baerbock and her French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot visited Syria in a sign of support for the transitional government, where they expressed willingness to help the war-torn country after Bashar al-Assad’s regime was toppled last month, making them the first European officials to do so.
German, French foreign ministers meet with Syria‘s HTS Islamist group
Syria‘s new de facto ruler and leader of the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) received an EU delegation led by German Foreign Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday.