Russia playing no positive role for international community: French president

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) - The French president said on Friday that currently, Russia is not playing a positive role in the international community.

Emmanuel Macron made the remark during an interview with French broadcasters Franceinfo, France 24, and RFI on the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, when asked if "Russia is still an enemy, especially in Africa."

“I do not like these terms which are definitive because this is not diplomacy,” Macron replied, adding that Russia decided by itself to not respect international law and become a colonial power in this century by waging a war against neighboring Ukraine.

“Russia is also a power of destabilization in Africa through private militias which are predators. It abuses the civilian populations through the Wagner group, as documented by the United Nations in the Central African Republic.”

When reminded that Russia did not attend the summit, the president said that all the countries that were needed to tackle the climate issues were there.

"Russia must first stop the war and agree to respect international law," he further said.

Asked about possible contact with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the French leader said: "I have no reason to call him today. There is a counter-offensive and the time will come for negotiations on the terms of Ukraine. On the other hand, if he calls me to suggest something, I'll take it, because France has always been a facilitating and mediating power."

Macron explained that resuming the dialogue is only possible if Moscow respects international law.

- Energy transition in Senegal

To a question about Senegal's energy transition, and whether the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal would set back its gas activities, Macron said the country will not have to give up its gas exploration, and added that the deal allows a transition that creates wealth.

Macron also noted that gas production will continue in Senegal since it is a "transitional energy that the planet will still need for decades."

Senegal vowed to increase its renewable energy rate to 40% in its electricity mix by 2030.

The French presidency, in a statement on Thursday, announced a partnership between Senegal and Germany, France, the EU, the UK, and Canada to support the West African country's transition efforts for cleaner energy.

“To accelerate the deployment of renewable energies, international partners and multilateral development banks will mobilize 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in new and additional financing over an initial period of 3 to 5 years, starting in 2023,” the statement read.

The IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has announced that the fund has hit its target of $100 billion (€91.9 billion) reallocation of Special Drawing Rights, "thanks to the mobilization of G20 partners," Macron said in a tweet on Thursday.

This reallocation established in 2021 was aimed at helping the most vulnerable populations.

The two-day summit in Paris started on Thursday with a focus on helping the most vulnerable developing countries tackle poverty and climate change.