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THE MOSCOW NEWS: TOUGH-TALKING SARKOZY MELTS ON MOSCOW VISIT
French President Nicolas Sarkozy made his first official visit to Russia this week. Talking to press on the results of the summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sarkozy said that the two countries will develop cooperation on energy issues and that significant progress has been made in resolving disagreements over Iran's nuclear program.
Before the visit took place there were some doubts about a positive outcome, primarily due to President Sarkozy's openly pro-American stance and his recent criticism of Russia's perceived ambitions. Sarkozy has indicated that he preferred closer relations with the U.S. to those with Russia even before he was elected. After winning the presidency, he criticized Russia for "complicating" international problems and for alleged aggressiveness in international relations.
Hovever, before the start of the visit, French journalists and political experts tried to play down Sarkozy's tone. Speaking at the video conference held by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Daniel Vernet of the Le Monde newspaper pointed out that "For the French president, tough statements are his ordinary style of political discourse, but our analysts have never viewed such statements as attacks against Russia." The journalist added that Sarkozy "always holds tough discussions, even with European partners of France, not to mention his statements on domestic political issues."
During his Moscow visit, the French leader lived up to his reputation, but not in full. He mentioned the rights situation in Russia and several times reminded Putin that he will be leaving his presidential post soon. Immediately after the joint press conference, Sarkozy and Putin paid a visit to members of a Russian rights groups to hear their reports about the situation in Chechnya.
Meanwhile, the French leader noted progress in reaching agreement on numerous issues, foremost the Iranian nuclear program and Russia's energy policy. Sarkozy also hinted on developing friendly relations with the Russian president by saying that Putin had told him the name of the person he would like to see the next leader of Russia. Sarkozy refused to disclose the successor's name.
He also said that his intention to be friends with the U.S. should not be taken as an admittance of American superiority. "I am a friend of the United States, but that does not mean I have no disagreements with America. A friend is not a vassal," the French president told students in the Bauman Technical School.
The results of the summit were drawn at the joint press conference held by the two leaders on Wednesday. The two leaders said that the stance on the main issue of the talks - the Iranian nuclear program - had become closer. "We do not have information that Iran is trying to create a nuclear weapon. We operate on the principle that Iran does not have those plans," Putin told journalists. The Russian leader said that Russia would cooperate with the UN while working on the problem and that Russia's building of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr would be absolutely transparent.
Sarkozy said that the Russian and French positions on the issue had "moved closer," and added that the disagreements could be the result of the difference in analysis. "I believe there is a certain convergence of our opinions. What Mr. Putin has just said is important. A few days before his visit to Tehran, to say that he is cooperating, that he wants to continue cooperating, is important," the French President told the press.
Putin is leaving for a visit to Tehran next week to attend the Caspian Sea Summit and hold talks with top Iranian officials.
The other important issue at the talks was the Russian energy policy. The French leader said that the cooperation between the two countries must develop without confrontation. "We understand Russian interests, and we would like everything to be transparent," Sarkozy said. The French president added that French investors were interested in a stake in Russian natural gas company Gazprom. Putin supported the idea, but said that Russian companies must also be allowed to buy into French companies and that such processes must be honest and transparent.
Speaking on the question of Kosovo's independence, Sarkozy called on European nations to remain united over the security issue, but added that the discussion with Russia remained open.
After the press conference the French leader met with members of the Memorial rights group. Prior to the meeting, the French President outlined the stance of his country by saying that, "France is not going to teach lessons to anyone," but expressed concern over the state of the civil society in Russia. At the meeting with Memorial members, Sarkozy heard reports on current events on press freedom, civil rights and the situation in the North Caucasus, particularly Chechnya. The French leader made no comment on the results of the meeting, but human rights campaigners have told the press that they considered such visit a demonstration of support.
Kirill BESSONOV
“The Moscow News”, October 11, 2007
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