La Gazette du Caucase: After dismal result of its participation in Minsk Group, France is once again seeing history being written without it
"Above all, he endorsed the figure of 30,000 Palestinians killed, thereby thumbing his nose at those who had previously disputed the figure, attributing it to Hamas propaganda. In the absence of a clear vision of what the global balance and Francechr("39")s geopolitical position should be, neither the French nor his allies understand exactly where the Head of State wants to take his country. Above all, this strategic wandering, combined with Emmanuel Macronchr("39")s other leitmotif, his famous "Whatever it takes", is worrying the French, who are wondering whether they are not the ones who will soon have to foot the bill.
When it comes to Francechr("39")s policy in the Caucasus, incoherence is at its worst. France condemns Azerbaijan for freeing itself from a 28-year occupation, but "at the same time" supports Ukraine, invaded and threatened with occupation by the Russians. It participates in the sanctions imposed on Russia, but accepts that these sanctions are diverted by its Armenian friend, which is allied with Iran, one of Francechr("39")s favourite targets. What gallimaufry!" reads the article.
He notes that yet there is a very good explanation for this attitude.
"With no coherent foreign strategy, France is guided by domestic political considerations. The power of the Armenian lobby in France and its considerable electoral weight in Francechr("39")s three largest cities largely explain Francechr("39")s official attitude. But this is not the only reason. The right-wing drift of Macronchr("39")s policy has led him to rely on frivolous theories such as the "Christian roots of France" to justify his unconditional support for Armenia, or at least for its most nationalist branch, in the name of a supposed "clash of civilisations", even though Azerbaijan should be seen as a model of inclusive secularism. Emmanuel Macronchr("39")s obsessive desire to exist on the political stage has, here again, led him to rhetorical excesses, by promising to deliver arms to Armenia. In the meantime, however, the parties concerned have largely committed themselves to the bilateral peace process, with no concern for the French "gadfly". After the dismal result of its participation in the Minsk Group, France is once again seeing history being written without it," Brun concludes.