Discussion with Russia remains necessary in several fields: French minister

Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-02 23:27:00|Editor: huaxia

PARIS, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Discussion with Russia remains necessary in many domains, including the issue of a ceasefire in Libya and the strategic stability and arms control in Europe, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said Thursday.

"In our enormous efforts at reaching a ceasefire in Libya, we need to talk with Russia," Parly said at a teleconference with the European Parliament subcommittee on strategic issues and perspectives of European security and defense policy.

"And Libya isn't the only domain where such a discussion is necessary," she said. "There are particularly the issues of the strategic stability and arms control in Europe, after the end of the INF treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty) and the weakening of the Open Skies Treaty."

"There are still other issues, such as Ukraine and Syria," she added.

"That is why French President (Emmanuel Macron) has decided to re-establish channels of discussion with Moscow," said Parly.

Macron has repeatedly said that it is necessary to give new impetus to the strategic dialogue with Russia.

Last September, Parly, together with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, visited Moscow in the wake of the demise of the INF treaty, which was signed in 1987 between the former Soviet Union and the United States on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles.

Last May, France, along with nine other European nations, announced that dialogue will continue with Russia on matters relating to the implementation of the Open Skies Treaty, while the United States decided to pull out of the treaty which allows surveillance flights over the territory of participants.

"We are actually entering into a time of acceleration of tensions, of acceleration of erosion of treaties, into a climate of growing unpredictability and instability," said Parly, stressing the need to strengthen defense of Europe. Enditem

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