... caused an uproar. European media was quick to conclude that the French leader effectively supported his Russian counterpart’s idea. The Kremlin voiced a similar interpretation of his statement. Capitals of Central Europe responded with a barrage of accusations against the Élysée Palace, suggesting its current occupant was undermining the unity of the West and was, once again, all too willing to make unjustified concessions to Moscow. Many in the United States were surprised that France was trying to influence the fate of the INF Treaty, which was (or rather had been, before its demise) a bilateral treaty between Moscow and Washington.
Macron had some explaining to do to his American and European partners, NATO Secretary-General ...
... why we have many problems in common with Europe, those that generate states of inequality and despair, other forms of alienation. They are easier to solve together. We can draw lessons from each other’s mistakes. If we take the pensions reform in France, something could be prompted by the experience of the similar reform in Russia. It has led to a substantial rise in the over-all uncertainty in the country, which might continue well into the 2024 elections, unless a broad maneuver is undertaken ...
... Without political support from the US, it could quickly wind up on the US Department of Treasury’s SDN list. Trump’s refusal to make exceptions for some European countries (Italy and Greece) in oil trade with Iran was also somewhat humiliating.
In ... ... necessary to look for compromise with due account of Mike Pompeo’s 12 items that are unlikely to disappear any time soon. France forwarded a proposal that does not sound unequivocal but is quite suitable for discussion and bargaining: the JCPOA must ...
... but steady. In that case Europe could guarantee itself strong positions, well in line with its values and traditions, in a globalised world of interdependence and cultural diversity, where development of all would ensure development of each nation.
France convened the Paris Peace Forum last year to mark the end of World War One. So far its results do not impress. Maybe, we could begin with an OSCE summit which has not been held ever since 2010? Holding any inclusive forum similar to the Hague Peace ...
... room. Its impact on the region is profound, multifaceted and controversial. The predominant view in the West in general and in France in particular is that Iran is more part of the problem than it is part of the solution. Of course, Iran’s friends and ... ... less prone to condemn so-called “destabilizing” activities in the region and is in any case not prepared to establish any causal effect between these matters and the implementation of the JCPOA. However, Russia and Europe do share some obvious common ...
On April 18, 2019, at IFRI (Institut français des relations internationales), Paris, Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, held a closed expert seminar session on the ”Future of Strategic Stability in the Context of Confrontation between Moscow and Washington”.
On April 18, 2019, at IFRI (Institut français des relations internationales), Paris, Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, held a closed expert seminar session on the ”Future of Strategic Stability in the Context of Confrontation between...
... all regional and international players around the same table
Despite eight years of horrific conflict, and over 500,000 thousand deaths, a stable peace in Syria remains elusive. The two writers of this article may disagree on what the final outcome ... ... it is impossible to sit all regional and international players around the same table. Three of them, i.e. Russia, the US and France, have vested interests, a capacity to talk to many regional stakeholders and are permanent members of the UNSC. We suggest ...
... Domino Effect: America’s Withdrawal from the INF Treaty and Its Ramifications
Few of us remember how negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme began. In October 2003, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Dominique de Villepin and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Joschka Fischer approached President of Iran Mohammad Khatami in an attempt to persuade him to comply with IAEA requirements and also to provide him with guarantees that ...
... “Multilateral Format” Scenarios
1. Regardless of the resolution of the post-Yugoslav heritage problems, formation of a permanent "Balkan Council" is a top priority. It would include representatives of Russia, the US, Great Britain, Turkey, France, Italy, Slovenia and Germany as international observers, with mediation on the part of the EU and the UN, and also envoys of all the Western Balkan countries. The logical way to give life to this format is to reframe and accelerate the work of ...
... Report “The Sanctions Against Russia: Escalation Scenarios and Countermeasures”
In 2018, the French bank Societe Generale agreed to pay the US Treasury the highest fine, almost $54 million. The Treasury accused the French bank of conducting over a thousand transactions that violated the sanctions regime against Cuba, Iran and Sudan worth $5.5 billion during 2007-2012. The American regulator also established a number of aggravating circumstances including some of bank employees’ awareness of possible ...
