New French president promises tough talk at first Putin meeting

[webfact]

New French president promises tough talk at first Putin meeting

By Michel Rose and John Irish

REUTERS

 

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at a press conference at the end of the G7 Summit in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, May 27, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

 

VERSAILLES, France (Reuters) - New French President Emmanuel Macron is promising tough talk at his first meeting with Vladimir Putin on Monday, following an election campaign when his team accused Russian media of trying to interfere in the democratic process.

 

Macron, who took office two weeks ago, has said that dialogue with Russia is vital in tackling a number of international disputes. Nevertheless, relations have been beset by mistrust, with Paris and Moscow backing opposing sides in the Syrian civil war and at odds over the Ukraine conflict.

 

Fresh from talks with his Western counterparts at a NATO meeting in Brussels and a G7 summit in Sicily, Macron will host the Russian president at the palace of Versailles outside Paris.

 

Amid the baroque splendour, Macron will use an exhibition on Russian Tsar Peter the Great at the former royal palace to try to get Franco-Russian relations off to a new start.

 

"It's indispensable to talk to Russia because there are a number of international subjects that will not be resolved without a tough dialogue with them," Macron said.

 

"I will be demanding in my exchanges with Russia," the 39-year-old president told reporters at the end of the G7 summit on Saturday, where the Western leaders agreed to consider new measures against Moscow if the situation in Ukraine did not improve.

 

Relations between Paris and Moscow were increasingly strained under former President Francois Hollande. Putin, 64, cancelled his last planned visit in October after Hollande said he would see him only for talks on Syria.

 

Then during the French election campaign the Macron camp alleged Russian hacking and disinformation efforts, at one point refusing accreditation to the Russian state-funded Sputnik and RT news outlets which it said were spreading Russian propaganda and fake news.

 

Two days before the May 7 election runoff, Macron's team said thousands of hacked campaign emails had been put online in a leak that one New York-based analyst said could have come from a group tied to Russian military intelligence.

 

Moscow and RT itself rejected allegations of meddling in the election.

 

Putin also offered Macron's far-right opponent Marine Le Pen a publicity coup when he granted her an audience a month before the election's first round.

 

Macron decisively beat Le Pen, an open Putin admirer, and afterwards the Russian president said in a congratulatory message that he wanted to put mistrust aside and work with him.

 

Hollande's former diplomatic adviser, Jacques Audibert, noted how Putin had been excluded from what used to be the Group of Eight nations as relations with the West soured. Meeting in a palace so soon after the G7 summit was a clever move by Macron.

 

    "Putin likes these big symbolic things. I think it's an excellent political opportunity, the choice of place is perfect," he told CNews TV. "It adds a bit of grandeur to welcome Putin to Versailles."

 

The Versailles exhibition commemorates a visit to France 300 years ago by Peter the Great, known for his European tastes.

 

FRANK CONVERSATION

 

A Russian official told reporters in Moscow on Friday that the meeting was an opportunity "to get a better feel for each other" and that the Kremlin expected "a frank conversation" on Syria.

 

While Moscow backs President Bashar al-Assad, France supports rebel groups trying to overthrow him. France has also taken a tough line on European Union sanctions on Russia, first imposed when it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and cancelled a $1.3 billion warship supply contract in 2015.

 

During the campaign, Macron backed expanded sanctions if there were no progress with Moscow implementing a peace accord for eastern Ukraine, where Kiev's forces have been battling pro-Russian separatists.

 

Since being elected, Macron appears to have toned down the rhetoric, although he noted the two leaders still had "diverging positions" in their first phone call.

 

Macron has said his priority in Syria was crushing the Islamic State group, which will resonate with Putin.

 

One French diplomat said Macron was insisting on talking more after several years when everyone took France's hard line for granted, making compromise difficult.

 

"Macron gave himself enough wiggle room, which opens up a new diplomatic and political window," said the diplomat.

 

(Editing by Adrian Croft and David Stamp)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-29

[Opl]

and to be reminded ... during French Presidential Campaign...

Emmanuel Macron labelled 'psychopath who hates France' in Russian media

An article in Komsomolskaya Pravda says France deserves to go through 'globalist hell' 

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-media-emmanuel-macron-french-president-general-election-2017-gay-psychopath-hates-france-a7723531.html

Edited May 29, 2017 by Opl

[elgordo38]

Give me a break I am not a life newbie I have heard all this tough talking crap before only to have it end in hand shaking back slapping and positive press. Its a game folks to game the politician and of course you the voter. 

[Baerboxer]

 

I'm sure Mr. Putin will be really worried about what this newly elected to his first ever elected role of President of France "demands" - not.

 

France - insignificant junior member of the German EU. Vlad just won't take them seriously.

[Baerboxer]

3 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

Give me a break I am not a life newbie I have heard all this tough talking crap before only to have it end in hand shaking back slapping and positive press. Its a game folks to game the politician and of course you the voter. 

 

Macron is a former banker. Bullshit and banking go hand in hand.

 

Macron promised to be tough on Russia, tough with the EU and demand reforms. All talk so far.

 

Now let's see what, if anything, he ever delivers.

[watcharacters]

Just now, elgordo38 said:

Give me a break I am not a life newbie I have heard all this tough talking crap before only to have it end in hand shaking back slapping and positive press. Its a game folks to game the politician and of course you the voter. 

 

Correct,  but I do think  the general attitude  in France is not pro USA... I believe  it tends to be pro France.

 

 

I like France  and even more so if it could  shed  its native  French citizens..    And I will especially add the Paris citizens into that mix.

[peterb17]

Don't worry- as long as Macron gets a fabulous dinner with the finist foie gras etc all will be well 

Macron will live a lifestyle that will rank amongst royalty and the most wealthy in the world.

Its this what they fight for- never ever having to open a door in you whole life again. 

 

Call  me cynical ? 

[nauseus]

I'm sure Vlad is shaking in his boots now!

[JHolmesJr]

Macron wants to be Vlad…..but he's just another banker.

[whatawonderfulday]

God help France with this fool in charge.  no wonder the Germans are on another charge.

Edited May 29, 2017 by whatawonderfulday

[ilostmypassword]

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

I'm sure Mr. Putin will be really worried about what this newly elected to his first ever elected role of President of France "demands" - not.

 

France - insignificant junior member of the German EU. Vlad just won't take them seriously.

Russia has almost twice the population of France but France's economy is 1 1/2 times as big as Russias. And when you consider that much of Russia's GDP comes from fossil fuels, Russia's economy compared to France's is something of a joke.

[Srikcir]

I like Macron - kind of a cross between Reagan and JF Kennedy.

Deftly handled Trump at the G7 meeting.

Of course France having nuclear weapons doesn't hurt either.

[Opl]

 

after the press conference, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron in the gardens of Versailles.AP Photo / Francois Mori, pool

Edited May 29, 2017 by Opl

[Kiwiken]

17 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Macron is a former banker. Bullshit and banking go hand in hand.

 

Macron promised to be tough on Russia, tough with the EU and demand reforms. All talk so far.

 

Now let's see what, if anything, he ever delivers.

Macron will slash workers rights and Pension entitlements, Cut Public Health spending and snuggle up closer to International Banks in the name of making France more competitive in the World. The rsult the same people will get richer, The bottom will get poorer and the middle will stand there saying Scare bleu we never voted for zis! 40 years of World economic and Social reform and back to the days of Barons and Serfs

[maxcorrigan]

20 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Macron is a former banker. Bullshit and banking go hand in hand.

 

Macron promised to be tough on Russia, tough with the EU and demand reforms. All talk so far.

 

Now let's see what, if anything, he ever delivers.

Not only just a banker,but a Rothschild Banker at that, big difference!

[Usernames]

Macron, Merkel's poodle, and the true new Vichy France.

[ilostmypassword]

3 hours ago, maxcorrigan said:

Not only just a banker,but a Rothschild Banker at that, big difference!

And why would that make any difference at all?

[oxo1947]

BBC News: .  New French president promises he will be tough with  Putin at their first meeting---

In other news: President Putin is rushed into hospital requiring 376 stitches to both his sides............................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nauseus]

12 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

And why would that make any difference at all?

Funny! 

[ilostmypassword]

Just now, nauseus said:

Funny! 

Stupid.