France: Issues Regarding Iridium Mobile Phone System Not Resolved.  An
inter-governmental panel composed of members of the Prime Minister's
office, and the Defense, Interior, Justice, and Telecommunications
ministries are to review Iridium compliance with a 1991 French law
requiring security-motivated interceptions of telecommunications.  The
issue is further complicated by the fact that the southern European
land-station facility is located in Italy and not France.  High-ranking
officials have stated that France's national sovereignty is at stake
over the issue and that it is "inconceivable" that it might have to ask
Italy for authorization to eavesdrop on French nationals.