The Latest: French president sends adviser to Iran for talks
The Latest on U.S.-Iran tensions French President Emmanuel Macron is sending his chief diplomatic adviser to Iran following its decision enrich uranium beyond the threshold of the 2015 nuclear accord. The Elysee Palace said Monday that Emmanuel Bonne was returning on Tuesday to Tehran. He had made a day-long visit last month in a bid […]
Sanctions on Russia can be lifted ‘at any time’
Even as both the EU and Russia renewed sanctions against each other, the French prime minister argued the measures are not permanent and could be removed swiftly, in a possible signal to Washington. “We know that sanctions are not a permanent regime, but a state that can be canceled at any time,” PM Eduard Philippe […]
China backs multilateralism initiative
China is supporting a move by France and Germany to launch an Alliance for Multilateralism, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Monday, stressing that Beijing backs any effort to promote global cooperation. “China has always been a firm defender, supporter and practitioner of multilateralism,” Lu said. He added that the world needs multilateralism […]
UN Security Council: Germany, France share presidency
Germany is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. From the beginning of April, it officially takes over the chair — as part of a “dual presidency” with France. What is a “dual presidency?” Germany and France are both currently serving on the UN Security Council. France has a permanent […]
France defends Iran nuclear deal, Trump to decide soon
France made a fresh plea on Monday for the United States to preserve the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and suggested its provisions expiring after a decade could be strengthened, as U.S. President Donald Trump said he would decide on the matter soon.The pact between Tehran and six world powers, which calls for Iran to curb […]
France to propose new peace plan
France is expected to propose a new plan for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), an official in Paris said Saturday night. The comments came ahead of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s trip to France, where he will mark the 75th anniversary of the Vel d’Hiv roundup, where more than 13,000 […]
France calls on Israel to reconsider construction plans for settlements in east Jerusalem
France called on Israeli authorities to reconsider the recently granted approval of construction plans for more than 1,500 housing units in settlements in East Jerusalem. According to a statement by France’s foreign ministry, the French government is also very concerned by information reporting additional plans that could be approved in the coming days, claiming […]
With threat ‘very high’, France set to extend state of emergency
Paris (AFP) – President Emmanuel Macron wants a sixth extension of France’s state of emergency since the Paris attacks of November 2015, his prime minister said Wednesday, adding that the terror threat “remains very high”. The new president, elected on May 7, also wants legislation to bolster the powers of the security forces, Prime Minister […]
Merkel and Macron agree to draw up roadmap to deeper EU integration
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and new French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on Monday to draw up a roadmap to deeper European Union integration and opened the door to changing the bloc’s treaties to facilitate ambitious reform. A day after Macron’s inauguration, the two leaders struck a consensual tone in Berlin after talks in which they […]
France’s Macron calls for ‘historic reconstruction’ of Europe
France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron, has called for a “historic reconstruction” of Europe, saying it is “the only reaction” to fight populism. Speaking in Berlin on the first full day of his presidency, he was joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She said the pair had a “joint conviction” that they needed to “deepen the […]