Putin visits Versailles: what Russia expects of Macron
While Vladimir Putin is received by Emmanuel Macron in Versailles on Monday, the Russian ambassador to France, Alexander Orlov, believes that "Russia is ready to make the first step with the new French president", which he compares to François Mitterrand .
He is the face of Russia in France, the shadow of Vladimir Putin. Appointed Ambassador in Paris in 2008, Alexander Orlov saw many French politicians pass through the "bunker", the nickname given to his gigantic concrete embassy, located in the chic 16th arrondissement of the capital. If he admits having sympathy to "Jean-Luc Mélenchon" and friendship for "Jean-Pierre Chevènement", the 69-year-old diplomat also has strong ties with the French right, starting with François Fillon, whom he said he was "surprised" by his defeat in the presidential election. While Vladimir Putin is received this Monday in Versailles by Emmanuel Macron, one of the most vehement candidates against the Kremlin during the campaign, Alexander Orlov returns exclusively for
Challenges on the attitude of the new president towards Russia. Interview.
What do you expect from Emmanuel Macron?
We hope that he will revive the policies of his great predecessors like General de Gaulle and Francois Mitterrand, when France could fully exercise its role as a great world power. We are waiting for him to show greater autonomy of decision than François Hollande while remaining within the framework of the traditional alliances of France. I have the impression that Emmanuel Macron can become this great president who will mark the history of France. With him we are dealing with a true head of state, brilliant, competent, intelligent. He reminds me of François Mitterrand.
Emmanuel Macron did not spare Russia, and Vladimir Putin, during the presidential campaign.
The campaign has been very tense and has led to some declarations, but this is not unusual. He has always been correct vis a vis of Russia.
Do you regret the elimination in the first round of François Fillon, one of the most Russophile candidates?
I was surprised by his defeat but I see that there is a real desire for renewal in France, a strong desire for change. Emmanuel Macron embodies that.
What are the priority issues that Russia wants to address with the new president?
The most burning is Syria. We can get along with the President of the Republic. He seems more determined than Francois Hollande and that is a good thing. We launched the Astana process in January, and we have already made some progress, particularly with regard to the creation of de-escalation zones. We must now move forward to Geneva where France can play an important role.
How can the Franco-Russian relationship, which seems to be at its lowest, re-emerge?
To do that, we must already have the political will to do so. And as Vladimir Putin reminded us, we must overcome the mutual distrust that has taken hold in recent years. We must also have a common vision of the future. Our current relations, whether with France or the European Union, suffer terribly from the absence of a common objective, a shared political purpose. This common objective can only be the creation of a common economic and human space between Russia and Europe, of which our country has been an integral part since the dawn of time. This idea, over time, took different forms: "Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals" of General de Gaulle or the "European Confederation" of François Mitterrand. Whatever the form, this idea is transcribed in our common history. For the time being, let's try to learn to work together, to dialogue, to respect each other, to seek solutions, instead of encamping on uncompromising positions. Russia is ready to make the first step with the new French president.
With regard to the Franco-Russian relationship, what is your assessment of François Hollande's term?
This assessment is contradictory. At the beginning of his term, François Hollande expressed a real desire to establish personal relations with Vladimir Putin. He told me about it in January 2013. Then, through the force of external events, relations between our two countries became hostage to international crises, especially in Ukraine and Syria. In my opinion, the French president has lacked tenacity to impose his own brand on the foreign policy of France. It has not been consistent and has often changed course.
Economically, the record is not excellent either. Over the past two years, France has been the leading foreign investor in Russia. But since 2014, our trade has fallen by half. This is largely due to European sanctions and the fall in the price of oil, but it is also evidence of a certain lack of will to move forward. France has sacrificed its own interests in the name of European and transatlantic solidarity.
https://www.challenges.fr/monde/eur...lles-ce-que-la-russie-attend-de-macron_473854
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Putin arrived in Versailles
