An informal discussion. Guests of the program “What a time!” Broadcast on Saturday, November 23 on France 2, two former prime ministers, Dominique de Villepin and Élisabeth Borne, expressed their disagreements on the current international situation, from the Middle East to the war in Ukraine, and on France’s place in the scene international. scene.
Respect for international law
Initially, the first city lamented the lack of clarity from Paris on the conflict in the Middle East, while the Israeli army continues its bombings in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. “I don’t remember Emmanuel Macron’s position when he went to the Middle East for the first time indicating that it was necessary to form an anti-terrorist coalition, I don’t think that was the initiative that was necessary,” he begins.
“The fight that must be fought and that France is not fighting is a fight to defend the principles that international law must be respected in both cases (in the Middle East and in Ukraine, ed.),” he adds. .
Élisabeth Borne responded that, shortly after the October 7 attacks that provoked the response of the Jewish state in the Gaza Strip, “France stated very firmly from the beginning that Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with international law.” remember.
What followed was an escalation of tone between the two former Matignon tenants regarding the current stance to be adopted:
“Are you doing it in accordance with international law?” replies de Villepin. “The magic solution is not to accept,” he adds. “I don’t accept it! I do not accept the massacres in the Gaza Strip,” Élisabeth Borne immediately responds.
“There are not many diplomats here, diplomacy is trying again and again,” he continues, emphasizing that it was necessary to present a new resolution for Gaza after the arrest warrants issued by the European International Court against Benjamin Netanyahu and a former minister. his.
Correct red lines in Ukraine
Regarding the Ukrainian conflict, Dominique de Villepin’s vision remains the same: it is necessary to listen to the voice of France and Europe to thwart American plans.
“Donald Trump arrives with unilateral ideas already prepared, here again we have two months to advance strong positions that allow us to block American diplomacy that aims to resolve everything very quickly and on its own. Let’s work with the Ukrainians. with all the Europeans to establish a position that serves as a red line for Trump,” he suggests.
“On Ukraine we had successive sets of sanctions from Europe, which remained united to sanction Russia,” defends Élisabeth Borne, prime minister at the beginning of the conflict and the establishment of these sanctions.
“You are right, but can we be content knowing that these sanctions are being evaded?” responds, stressing that a ceasefire in Ukraine could allow kyiv “not to be forced” to capitulate. “We should not force Ukraine to sell its territorial integrity or sovereignty,” he concludes.
Source: BFM TV
