French Republic
Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert
France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Jean-Maurice Ripert has served as France’s permanent representative to the United Nations since August 8, 2007. The following is excerpted from debate during the 5,839th meeting of the UN Security Council on February 18, 2008. Kosovo declared its independence yesterday. Pursuant tointernational law, it is up to each state to decide whether or not to recognizethe new state. In a letter sent to the President of Kosovo, the President ofthe French Republic,Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, has just, effective immediately, recognized Kosovo as asovereign and independent state, in full accordance with the…