Sarkozy says yes to Medvedev's proposal for a security pact

(B2) There was a lot of interest on Friday, during the European Union summit with Russia, in Nicolas Sarkozy's remarks on anti-missiles.

« We can continue between Europe and Russia to threaten each other with shields, missiles, etc. It will do nothing for Russia, it will do nothing for Georgia and it will do nothing for Europe. It's not our view of things. I am fully prepared to account for this. It seems to me, moreover, that I am supported by the vast majority of European States “he specified in particular.

This provoked a reaction in Prague, more discreet in Warsaw. But that was nothing new. Already in July, during a press conference at the European Parliament, Sarkozy had regretted the lone horseman of the two eastern countries and explained that at least a collective discussion should take place (read: US missile shield, a European issue says Sarkozy).

On this occasion, he said he was interested in the proposal of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for a Security Pact. This time he went further. The Frenchman offered to discuss it, together, at a summit which would take place in June or July. In the meantime, it will be necessary to freeze any project “ deployment of shields, of missiles which does nothing for security, which complicates things, which rather makes them retreat ».

“As President of the European Council, I propose that in mid-2009, we meet in a framework which could be the OSCE to lay the foundations for what could be future European security. We all have an interest in this security on the continent and a little further than the continent because this would associate the Russians, the Americans and the Europeans, within the framework of the OSCE in mid-2009. [...] It goes without saying that this is a proposal for which we will consult with our American allies. It happens that there will be a NATO summit in April, that this NATO summit will be held in Kehl and in Strasbourg, that it will be a perfect opportunity to prepare for what could be an OSCE summit on these issues, for example in June or July".

To which Medvedev replied: “The negotiations of this period demonstrated that the security mechanisms in Europe are not perfect. That's why we came back to this idea of ​​a Global Treaty. I see that this idea is beginning to appeal to a growing number of elected representatives of the European Union. With regard to the participation of all parties in this pan-European security area, this would be the working principle for the future, rules for the future. […] NATO and the European Union, the CIS and the other organizations must be able to meet and discuss all these questions. In this context, I absolutely agree that before the signing of a special comprehensive agreement on security, we must all refrain from unilateral measures that would influence this security. Russia has never taken unilateral decisions. All the decisions that we have prepared, including the decisions that I was talking about recently, are the reaction to the measures of a few European states which, without consulting anyone, have agreed to deploy resources in their territory. But if you're willing to cooperate, then you have to. And the European Union can play a very constructive coordinating role. »

(NGV)

(Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs © MAEE / F. de la Mure)