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“We are realistic about Russia and its behavior, so we are cautious with such an initiative. Without a doubt, the poisoning of Alexei Navaln, as well as the influence of Russia in Belarus, is an obstacle to the efforts shown by President Emmanuel Macron ”Says G. Nauseda in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro.
In the same interview, the president stressed at the same time that France should be the country that could take the mediation to start a peaceful dialogue between the Belarusian government and civil society.
Nineteen years after the visit of Jacques Chirac, who supported the accession of the Baltic states to the European Union and NATO, Emmanuel Macron arrives in Vilnius. What do you expect from this visit?
First I would like to recall the historical context of the visit. This year, Lithuania and France celebrate the centenary of their diplomatic relations, and I can assure you that our countries have a common vision in many areas, such as European values, human rights, the common EU agenda … At the European Council , during which we defended the economic recovery plan. The negotiations have been very difficult, but resident Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have managed to strike a balance between the different groups of countries. We have adopted a very ambitious plan for the next five to seven years. Finally, this visit will be a great opportunity to discuss many issues: our relations with Russia, the events in Belarus, the necessary strengthening of economic relations between our countries.
Lithuania is at the forefront of the Belarusian crisis. What role could France play in solving this crisis?
I believe that we have great potential to advance the response to the events in Belarus. I would like to encourage European countries, and France in particular, as well as Russia, to take on the role of mediators to establish a peaceful dialogue between the Minsk authorities and civil society. We have already started such measures, but we would like other countries to join us. Of course, you can tell me that President Lukashenko is not yet ready for dialogue. But time passes and the situation can change at any moment. In the meantime, it is essential that the European Union implement a sanctions policy. August 19 The European Council met on the situation in Belarus. Although all the Heads of State made their views on values and human rights very clear, we could not reach an agreement. I hope that this issue will be resolved at the next summit. We must show solidarity in order to maintain the image of Europe and trust in Europe.
What will you tell President Emmanuel Macron about the security situation in the Baltic countries and the behavior of Russia?
The specific history of our country differs from the history of many European countries. In 1940, Lithuania experienced its first occupation and later, after the USSR won the war with Germany, its second. For these reasons, we are very concerned about Russia’s efforts to rewrite and manipulate history (specifically in defense of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939 – editorial note). By the way, we would like politicians and historians from other countries to get involved in this debate. I want to say to President Emmanuel Macron that, of course, we have to promote East-West cooperation more, but this should not be done to the detriment of the values that we defend. One of our priorities is the security of the countries bordering Russia and Belarus. In our opinion, NATO must remain the most important pillar.
2019 In November, the French president declared that NATO had suffered “brain death”. How did you react to?
I would like to hear more detailed explanations on this. The transatlantic column allows the deployment of French, German and American soldiers on the territory of Lithuania according to the rotation of the battle group. Of course, a concerted effort can make NATO even more intense, but certainly without establishing multiple organizations that can compete with each other. Our unit is the most effective response to the aggressive policies of some countries. This is very important for Lithuania and other countries in the region. In terms of financing, our country spends 2% of its defense budget. GDP, as required by NATO rule, and more funding is envisaged for national defense.
2019 In August, Emmanuel Macron announced his desire to resume dialogue with Russia. Does the poisoning of Alexei Navaln prove that the situation was underestimated?
When it comes to Russia and its behavior, we are realistic, so we distrust such an initiative. Undoubtedly, the poisoning of Alexei Navaln, as well as Russia’s influence in Belarus, is an obstacle to the efforts shown by President Emmanuel Macron. I would like to add that it is very important to anticipate the long-term impact of an initiative of this type. But who, besides Lithuania and other countries in the Baltic region, can explain what is happening near us? For example, we are currently very concerned about the construction of the Astrava nuclear power plant in western Belarus, which is scheduled to start on November 7 this year. The site for the construction was chosen by Russia. This project represents a serious threat to the entire region. Let’s remember what happened in Chernobyl thirty years ago, says G. Nausėda in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro.
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