"There's a fixed date for NATO in the framework of its new strategy, that's the start of 2011, because in 2011 we're going to transfer a whole series of districts to the Afghans," Herve Morin told RTL radio.
"At that moment, there could be the first movements or first withdrawals of Allied forces from Afghanistan. In any case, that's the calendar set by Barack Obama, that in 2011 the first American troops could quit Afghanistan."
"And that's what a certain number of European countries have started to say," Morin explained, insisting that this has nothing to do with a threat issued against France on Wednesday by al-Oaeda Leader Osama bin Laden.
Asked whether the threat, contained in an audiotape broadcast by the Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera, was genuine, Morin said: "We're still in the course of trying to authenticate it. It's too soon to say.
"It's not impossible," he added. "All of our services and all of allies believe Osama bin Laden is alive."
In the tape, the apparent voice of Bin Laden warns that, by sending troops to Afghanistan and by banning the Islamic full face veil on its own territory, France had left itself open to retaliation.
He also said that last month's kidnap of five French nationals from the uranium mining town of Arlit in Niger by Al-Qaeda's North African wing had been intended as a warning.
"How could you take part in occupying our countries and support the Americans in killing our children and women, and then expect to live in peace and security?" Bin Laden demanded.
"It is very simple: As you kill, you will be killed, as you take hostages, you will be taken hostage, and as you compromise our security, we will compromise your security," he said in the two-minute message.
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