What to remember from Emmanuel Macron’s speech to the ambassadors

Emmanuel Macron on Monday praised the work of French diplomats who are working in difficult conditions, citing in particular the situation in Niger where the ambassador is still in post, although the soldiers who took power have asked for his departure. “France and the diplomats have been confronted in recent months with situations in certain particularly difficult countries, whether in Sudan where France has been exemplary, in Niger at this very moment and I salute your colleague and your colleagues who have been listening since their post,” the French president said in a speech to the ambassadors at their annual meeting.

Emmanuel Macron also refuted any “paternalism” but also any “weakness” of France in Africa while the Sahel is facing an “epidemic of putschs”, recently in Niger. “Neither paternalism nor weakness because otherwise we are nowhere”, he said in front of the French ambassadors gathered at the Elysee Palace, also calling on the countries of the Sahel to have a “responsible policy” in the matter. “The weakness that some have shown with regard to previous putsches has nourished regional vocations. There is an epidemic of putsches throughout the Sahel,” he lamented.

“Risk of weakening” of Europe

The Head of State, however, wanted to warn diplomats against a “risk of weakening” Europe and the West in the current international context. This context “has rather hardened”, “is getting more complicated” and “runs the risk of a weakening of the West and more particularly of our Europe”, he declared before the French ambassadors gathered in Paris. citing in particular “the emergence of (new) great international powers”.

The European Union must “accept more integration”, even “several speeds” to “evolve on essential subjects”, said Emmanuel Macron. “I can testify quite easily that a Europe of 27 is quite complicated to develop on essential subjects”, he declared to the French ambassadors, judging that “it will not be easier at 32 or 35 (…) so we need a certain audacity to accept more integration on certain policies, perhaps moreover several speeds of this Europe”.

Western Asia in the concerns

By giving an overview of the various areas of diplomatic tension, Emmanuel Macron notably cited the blockade of Karabakh, promising “an initiative” to try to lift the persistent blockage by Azerbaijan of the Lachin corridor, the only road linking the Armenia to the enclave of Nagorny-Karabakh. “I will have the opportunity to discuss this week with the (Armenian) Prime Minister Tachinian and with the (Azerbaijani) President Ilham Aliyev”, underlined the Head of State. “We will demand full respect for the Lachin Humanitarian Corridor and we will again take a diplomatic initiative in this direction internationally to increase the pressure.”

Regarding Iran, shaken by a protest movement since the death on September 16, 2022 of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, the Head of State asked during his speech for the release of the six French people detained “in unacceptable conditions”.

The next Baghdad conference announced at the end of November

The next Baghdad conference on security in the Middle East will take place “at the end of November”, the head of state also announced, calling on the states of the region to demand “increased cooperation” from Syria in the fight against terrorism if they want to reintegrate it into regional bodies. This reintegration of Damascus must “suppose increased cooperation in the fight against terrorist groups” and the possibility for Syrian refugees to return to their country with a certain number of “guarantees”, he stressed.