Tunisian Prime Minister Kamel Madouri expressed his concerns about the situation in Palestine during his speech at the 19th Francophonie Summit, held in Villers-Cotterêts, France, on October 4. Madouri denounced what he called a “genocide” against the population of Gaza that has continued for almost a year.
He reaffirmed Tunisia’s unwavering support for the right of Palestinians to have an “independent and sovereign state.” In the same vein, Madouri spoke about escalating tensions in Lebanon, calling the development “dangerous” and calling for rapid international intervention to avoid a major regional conflict.
The Prime Minister also requested the intervention of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) to take a position on these crucial issues in the Middle East. According to him, an immediate ceasefire in Palestine is necessary, and the OIF must actively engage for lasting peace.
Against this backdrop of tension, the summit marked the handover of the presidency of the OIF from Tunisia to France. In this context, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated France’s commitment to a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
At the same time, Emmanuel Macron also expressed his condemnation of Russia’s “war of aggression” in Ukraine. He recalled France’s position towards respect for international law and the promotion of stable peace. Since Russia’s February 24, 2022 military incursion into Ukraine, sanctions have been put in place by the European Union and the United States, as well as military support for Kyiv.
Russia justifies its intervention by protecting the Russian-speaking populations in Donbass and demands that Ukraine renounce joining military alliances such as NATO, also asking kyiv to adopt a status of total neutrality.
