The French prime minister’s office provided the following statement (translated here into English) concerning the issues raise in this report.
“France has created strategic partnerships with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates regarding common security interests: the fight against terrorism and the preservation of security in the Middle East. These partnerships are longstanding. It is within this framework that our defence cooperation is developed. They include exports of military equipment. These exportations were not wholly interrupted after 2015, but their authorisation, on a case-by-case basis, is naturally the subject of heightened attention
It should not be forgotten what caused the current situation in Yemen. The Houthi, allies of Saleh, used arms to gain control of Saana and half of the territory of the country, which led to the United Nations Resolution 2216.
That resolution (2216) takes note of the request for assistance by the legitimate Yemeni authorities that was addressed to the Gulf Cooperation Council and to the Arab League.
The Arab coalition also combats Daech [the so-called Islamic State group] and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who represent a threat for our own security.
France is a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty and we encourage its universalisation. Along with the European common position, it is a part of the texts we place in consideration when we decide to authorise, or not, exports of war equipment. These authorisations emanate from an inter-ministerial procedure, the CIEEMG [special commission], under the authority of the prime minister. The risks for the civilian population are obviously at the top of the criteria for examination that are taken into account.
You are aware of the importance that, in the conduct of our operations, the [French] armed forces place in international humanitarian law. These are requirements that we raise with our Emirati and Saudi partners, to who it is incumbent to respect them.
France actively supports the efforts of the United Nations and the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen to allow for an enduring political settlement to the conflict within the shortest delay. It supports the total establishment of the Stockholm agreement established under the auspices of the United Nations. It has taken several initiatives to provide support for the population, notably by organising a humanitarian conference in Paris in June 2018.
The government regularly accounts for its foreign policy priorities and actions before parliament. As you know, French arms exports are the subject of annual reports sent to parliament. These reports are public.
France is a responsible and reliable partner. Offensives are regularly waged from Yemen towards the territory of our partners in the region – we have witnessed this in attacks by ballistic missiles or drones carrying explosives, for example. France maintains a constant dialogue with these partners in order to respond to their defence requirements.
Moreover, to our knowledge, the French weapons which the coalition members dispose of are essentially placed in defensive positions, outside Yemeni territory or on coalition zones, but not on the frontline, and we have no knowledge of civilian victims resulting from their use in the Yemeni theatre [of fighting]. France is not among the leading supplier of weapons for those countries engaged in Yemen.
The government has regular exchanges with its Saudi and Emirati counterparts. These concerns naturally occupy an important place.”