The situation in Lebanon was at the heart of the 19th Francophonie summit in France, which ended this Saturday, October 5 at the Grand Palais. A meeting between around thirty heads of state and government among the now 93 members. Emmanuel Macron spoke out in favor of stopping the delivery of weapons to Israel and the OIF published a joint declaration of solidarity for Lebanon, calling for a ceasefire.
4 mins
With our special correspondent at the Grand Palais, Nicolas Rocca
While one of the founding states of the Francophonie, Lebanon, is under fire from Israeli strikes which have left more than 2,000 dead, it is impossible to ignore the crisis in the Middle East. This was omnipresent during the two days of the summit.
Despite their differences, the members of the International Organization of La Francophonie agreed on a text calling for a ceasefire and condemning indiscriminate actions against civilians. But the statement makes no mention of Israel.
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“ We would have liked there to be a very clear condemnation of French-speaking countries »
The Lebanese delegation is satisfied with this document, although it hoped for a clear condemnation of the strikes and the ground offensive of the Jewish state.
We would have liked there to be a very clear condemnation of French-speaking countries, but unfortunately, we could not even name Israel in the declaration. Because every time Israel is named, there are many countries that unfortunately stand in solidarity with Israel.
Listen on RFIZiad Makary, Lebanese minister at the OIF summit: “We could not name Israel in the declaration”
Tunisia, through its Prime Minister Kamel Madouri, strongly asked the OIF to support a firm position, Friday in Villers-Cotterêts. A position quite far from that of, for example, Romania, Albania or Canada, which expressed reservations during the development of another text of this 19th summit, a resolution on global crises.
The latter mentions Israel, to recall the obligation to protect the Palestinian population in the occupied zone and to allow access to relief and freedom of movement.
“ I will not underestimate the importance of this statement of support »
Proof of the significant differences between the members of La Francophonie, Emmanuel Macron went further than the texts adopted at the summit. If he announced that he would receive the families of Franco-Israeli victims of October 7, his call to stop arms deliveries to Israel, on France Inter this weekend, has already had a resounding effect.
Emmanuel Macron nevertheless defended the fact of having been able to find a common position. “ I will not underestimate the importance of this declaration of support for Lebanon and solidarity with Lebanon, he said. It is important and it is a clear voice of the OIF. »
Regarding his shock statement issued on France Inter, “ when we ask for ceasefires, Mr. Macron said, This is the case for Gaza, it was also the case for Lebanon last week, we try not to ask for a ceasefire while continuing to deliver the weapons of war. »
And while the subject is debated, as evidenced by this media investigation Disclosehe also assured that French weapons were not used to carry out combat in Gaza.
I have denounced several times Israel’s actions which have led to too many civilian deaths. […] We have always asked and demanded that international law be respected.
Press conference by Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, at the Grand Palais
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