cta-image

Donate

Donations from readers like you allow us to do what we do. Please help us continue our work with a monthly or one-time donation.

Donate Today
cta-image

Subscribe Today

Subscribe to receive daily or weekly MEMRI emails on the topics that most interest you.
Subscribe
cta-image

Request a Clip

Media, government, and academia can request a MEMRI clip or other MEMRI research, or ask to consult with or interview a MEMRI expert.
Request Clip
memri
May 29, 2011
Share Video:

On Libyan TV, Former French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas and Lawyer Jacques Verges Accuse Sarkozy of War Crimes and WW II-Style Crimes against Humanity

#2956 | 04:32
Source: Al-Jamahiriya TV (Libya)

Following are excerpts from a program featuring former French foreign minister Roland Dumas and lawyer Jacques Verges, which aired on Al-Jamahiriya TV on May 29, 2011:

Jacques Verges: The NATO countries, which, unfortunately, are headed by the French leaders, are perpetuating crimes against humanity. The man whose legs were severed, the man who could not breathe, and the baby who was killed and whose blood-stained toys I saw, were killed only because they were Libyans. This is a crime against humanity, and that is why, as a French citizen, and as someone who volunteered to the ranks of General De Gaulle, from age 17 to 20, I cannot accept such a disgrace for France. I cannot accept the fact that the hooligans in power in France today are tarnishing the image of France.

Regardless of the risks we are taking - because this is the first time we are seeing lawyers in any country suing the president for his crimes against humanity – Ronald Dumas and I are doing just that, based on the requests of the families of victims, killed (by NATO) merely because they are Libyans. This is why we are leading this campaign, and we are doing this in full confidence, because the French people cannot possibly accept this. The French people is a victim of lies.

Roland Dumas: You ask me about the conduct of the French leaders, but the only thing I know is that they have gone crazy. President Sarkozy hosted Qadhafi a few months ago at the Élysée Palace, with a red carpet and all the grandiose honors. Two months later, Sarkozy is leading a crusader war, at the head of NATO, which has become a pawn serving international politics. This has been going on for a long time.

I regret to see my country, to which I belong with spirit, blood, and life, leading an instrument such as NATO to come and destroy an entire people and attack its leaders. This is precisely how crimes against humanity were defined, following the war of 1939-1945. However, we are not at war. It is a crime against humanity to attack a sovereign country, a UN member, without specifying what we are accusing it of.

Jacques Verges: Let me tell you that the terrorism of today is state-sponsored terrorism. The terrorists are the French, British, and American governments. The International Criminal Court is racist. Note that all the people accused by this court are black. They are all Africans

Share this Clip: