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French Foreign Minister denounces
U.S. fine of Paribas Bank
The
French minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius,
described as unjust, unilateral and irrational the
10 billion dollar fine which the United States is
attempting to levy against the BNP Paribas bank.
The
U.S. Treasury Department has threatened to sanction
France’s largest bank group with this exorbitant
fine for supposed violations of the economic
blockade it has imposed on Cuba, Sudan and Iran.
The
amount demanded by the U.S. is not reasonable and
presents a serious problem, Fabius said, speaking in
Paris to France 2 television, adding that the fine
could have a devastating effect on the French
economy, if the amount indicated is confirmed.
“This is an example of an unjust, unilateral
decision,” he said, emphasizing that Washington
would be sending a bad message by imposing such a
sanction on a French financial institution,
precisely when the United States and the European
Union are discussing a transatlantic trade
agreement.
Asked if the French government would defend BNP
Paribas before U.S. authorities, Fabius responded
affirmatively.Ministers, former official and
analysts denounced the fine. “The United States
cannot act in a unilateral fashion. It cannot treat
its allies this way,” according to Jean-Marie Le
Guen, responsible for the French government’s
relations with Parliament. While the former head of
Foreign Trade, Pierre Lellouche commented that the
BNP Paribas fine was particularly shocking and
called on the government to react.
Lellouche decried attempts by the U.S. to impose its
laws on other countries, saying that this
constitutes a violation of international law.
This
is also the opinion of Sorbonne professor and
journalist Salim Lamrani, who said that in
accordance with current norms, U.S. legislation
should not be applied in France, just as German laws
are not used in Britain. What should prevail is
national law, he said speaking with Prensa Latina. (PL)
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