- 05 Jun 2018 07:10
#14921429
Macron's Visit - run after two hares
France is an old partner of Russia. Relations between the two countries are characterized not only by the duration, multidimensionality and friendliness of contacts. Moscow and Paris are connected by the centuries-old history and deep intertwining of cultures.
At present, the political situation in Europe is becoming increasingly depressing. At the same time, Washington plays an important role here - the US pressure on Europe has reached its maximum. In this regard, France is also at a disadvantage.
The way out of this situation seems to the French president in a "multilevel" approach to the current political situation. On the one hand, E. Macron wants to improve relations between France and Russia, on the other, to seize European leadership from Germany and, at the same time, maintain confidential relations with Washington.
Despite Macron's ambitious intentions, no obvious progress was made during the first year of his presidency in the sphere of Russian-French cooperation. Of the five projects announced a year ago in Versailles ("Trianon Dialogue", the creation of a Russian-French working group on combating terrorism, the creation of a working group to exchange information on the conflict in Syria, the summit of the leaders of the "Norman Quartet" (Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France), monitoring the observance of human rights in Russia.), only "Trianon Dialogue" can only be considered a breakthrough. Other initiatives have not been further developed over the past year. Thus, the last meeting of the leaders of the Norman Quartet was held only in October 2016 in Berlin. Specialized working groups on Syria and the fight against terrorism were not created either. There are also no large-scale projects to protect human rights. Thus, in 2017, relations between Russia and France developed in the field of culture and economy, stalling in other areas.
French analysts say that the blame for the lack of progress lies more on other players than on Paris. "Franco-Russian relations can not be viewed outside the context of Russia's relations with the West, which are now difficult," director of the Franco-Russian think tank Arno Dubien Observatory said.
According to E. Macron, the progress of Russian-French relations is hampered by the fact that French "independence" is carried out in the conditions of its "belonging to a democratic sovereign Europe" and an alliance with the United States of America. These two factors make it difficult for Paris and Russia to take real steps towards each other.
On the other hand, the current visit of the French president is unlikely to somehow change the situation and give a new impetus to Franco-Russian relations. The key thesis of E. Macron at the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin was a new responsibility, which is assigned to Russia as a leader. Against this background, Russia must respect the interests of France and its partners.
At the same time, it is unlikely that Macron's initiative to develop a new joint multilateral approach to international relations will be approved by the Russian leadership. First, the relevant international mechanisms have long been established, and they, albeit not so efficiently, but work. Secondly, the productivity of those mechanisms has decreased not through the fault of Russia. The West's lack of sincere interest in Russia's participation as an equal and fair player in the international political arena hinders further development of this issue. In addition, the existence of initiatives alone in the absence of a strictly regulated political course does not contribute to strengthening relations. Everyone knows that it is impossible to sit on two chairs at the same time.
France is an old partner of Russia. Relations between the two countries are characterized not only by the duration, multidimensionality and friendliness of contacts. Moscow and Paris are connected by the centuries-old history and deep intertwining of cultures.
At present, the political situation in Europe is becoming increasingly depressing. At the same time, Washington plays an important role here - the US pressure on Europe has reached its maximum. In this regard, France is also at a disadvantage.
The way out of this situation seems to the French president in a "multilevel" approach to the current political situation. On the one hand, E. Macron wants to improve relations between France and Russia, on the other, to seize European leadership from Germany and, at the same time, maintain confidential relations with Washington.
Despite Macron's ambitious intentions, no obvious progress was made during the first year of his presidency in the sphere of Russian-French cooperation. Of the five projects announced a year ago in Versailles ("Trianon Dialogue", the creation of a Russian-French working group on combating terrorism, the creation of a working group to exchange information on the conflict in Syria, the summit of the leaders of the "Norman Quartet" (Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France), monitoring the observance of human rights in Russia.), only "Trianon Dialogue" can only be considered a breakthrough. Other initiatives have not been further developed over the past year. Thus, the last meeting of the leaders of the Norman Quartet was held only in October 2016 in Berlin. Specialized working groups on Syria and the fight against terrorism were not created either. There are also no large-scale projects to protect human rights. Thus, in 2017, relations between Russia and France developed in the field of culture and economy, stalling in other areas.
French analysts say that the blame for the lack of progress lies more on other players than on Paris. "Franco-Russian relations can not be viewed outside the context of Russia's relations with the West, which are now difficult," director of the Franco-Russian think tank Arno Dubien Observatory said.
According to E. Macron, the progress of Russian-French relations is hampered by the fact that French "independence" is carried out in the conditions of its "belonging to a democratic sovereign Europe" and an alliance with the United States of America. These two factors make it difficult for Paris and Russia to take real steps towards each other.
On the other hand, the current visit of the French president is unlikely to somehow change the situation and give a new impetus to Franco-Russian relations. The key thesis of E. Macron at the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin was a new responsibility, which is assigned to Russia as a leader. Against this background, Russia must respect the interests of France and its partners.
At the same time, it is unlikely that Macron's initiative to develop a new joint multilateral approach to international relations will be approved by the Russian leadership. First, the relevant international mechanisms have long been established, and they, albeit not so efficiently, but work. Secondly, the productivity of those mechanisms has decreased not through the fault of Russia. The West's lack of sincere interest in Russia's participation as an equal and fair player in the international political arena hinders further development of this issue. In addition, the existence of initiatives alone in the absence of a strictly regulated political course does not contribute to strengthening relations. Everyone knows that it is impossible to sit on two chairs at the same time.
- By Tainari88
- By litwin
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