© REUTERS/ Philippe Wojazer
Speaking on Tuesday, October 31, before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the French president stressed the need to maintain dialogue between countries, notably taking the example of Russia and Turkey:
"We must talk to everyone and this is the method that I have adopted from day one [...] Because the destiny of Russia or Turkey will not be built by turning their back on Europe, since these two great nations are tied to Europe. Since their history, their geography, their literature, their political consciousness were built by rubbing against Europe.
"We must therefore on every occasion tell them, insist, not by closing the door, not by excluding them from everything, not by letting them exclude themselves from everything, but by conducting this intense, difficult, sometimes thankless dialogue, strewn with small victories, but also sometimes small defeats, but which consists in hanging on to the thread because their people deserve it ... " he thus declared.
"I will continue to speak to everyone, to make our case, to carry our voice and our values," he said.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed Emmanuel Macron's visit to Russia in 2018 and his participation in the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.
Translator note: Did you detect a patronizing tone in Macron's remarks? France, the light from the west!
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