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Belarus: towards a meeting between Macron and the opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa?

2020-09-28T13:26:44.977Z


The government spokesman said Monday at noon that the French president would meet her in Lithuania "if she so requests".


"It is clear that Lukashenko must leave": on the eve of his trip to Lithuania and Latvia, Emmanuel Macron clearly indicated that he in no way supported Alexander Lukashenko, whose re-election as head of Belarus is contested by the European Union and the United States.

This Monday in Vilnius, Lithuanian leaders await clear support from France, against the regime of neighboring Belarus and Russian pressure.

Belarusian opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who is in the capital of this Baltic country, called on him to mediate.

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“We are in dire need of mediation to prevent more blood from being shed.

Emmanuel Macron could be […] with the leaders of other countries.

He might be able to influence Vladimir Putin, with whom he has good relations, ”Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa said in an interview.

She hopes to meet him on Tuesday in Vilnius.

"An important confirmation"

The opponent clarified that she had asked Emmanuel Macron to meet him.

In Paris, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said Monday at noon that the French president would meet her "if she so requests".

Which makes their maintenance extremely likely.

This first meeting with a major international leader would be for the opponent "an important confirmation", she stressed.

Both the European Union and the United States refuse to recognize the election of Lukashenko, considered fraudulent, and condemn the repression against a wave of unprecedented demonstrations.

Belarusian police arrested another two hundred people on Sunday.

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Lithuanian writers, artists and scientists on Sunday called on the French president to support protesters in Belarus.

"Men and women" of Belarus "are subjected to inhuman torture.

And this is happening in 21st century Europe!

“, Underline these artists and scientists.

This crisis is expected to dominate the discussions of the French president on Monday with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda, who supports the Belarusian opposition.

Baltic countries await support against Putin

France is asking for a peaceful transition taking into account the will of the population, "while avoiding the risk of greater repression, or even of intervention by Russia," according to the Elysee.

The Baltic States also expect the French President to provide firm support against pressure from Vladimir Putin, with the crisis in Belarus turning to a standoff between the Western countries and Russia.

And this at a time when the poisoning of the Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny still increases the tensions between Moscow and the West.

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"Lithuanian leaders expect a firm reaction from Macron to Russia, but his dialogue with Vladimir Putin may raise questions," warned Vilnius University professor Ramunas Vilpisauskas.

Macron: Russia "could play a positive role"

“I spoke to Vladimir Putin on September 14, the day he received Lukashenko in Sochi.

I told him that Russia has a role to play, and this role can be positive if it pushes Lukashenko to respect the truth of the ballot box and to release political prisoners.

It was two weeks ago, we are not there ”, commented the French president.

In April 2018, Emmanuel Macron received in Paris the presidents of the three Baltic States on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of their independence.

He then reaffirmed that France was at their "side", in particular "within the framework of NATO".

A visit to NATO troops

The Frenchman will also take advantage of his visit to meet NATO troops in the region, by going to the Lithuanian base in Rukla, where 300 French soldiers are stationed in an international NATO battalion.

A symbolic presence in the face of Russian forces.

The Atlantic Alliance has deployed permanent rotations of troops to Poland and the Baltic states in the face of Moscow's deemed aggressive policy since the annexation in 2014 of Ukrainian Crimea.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2020-09-28

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