Europe needs to launch a new dialogue on cybersecurity, chemical weapons and a number of other security issues with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th August, 2018) Europe needs to launch a new dialogue on cybersecurity, chemical weapons and a number of other security issues with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday.
"I will promote in the coming months the project of the reinforcement of the European solidarity regarding the security ... This reinforced solidarity will mean looking again at the European defense and security architecture. On the one hand, by launching anew a dialog on cybersecurity, chemical weapons, classic weapons, territorial conflicts, space security or protection of polar areas, especially, with Russia. I would like us to begin a thorough reflection on these topics with all of our European partners in a larger sense, that is, with Russia," Macron said in his address to the ambassadors.
Macron said that the progress on resolving the conflict in Ukraine would be among the conditions for continuing work with Moscow.
"But it should not preclude us from working on the European level at the moment," Macron said.
The French president added that Europe could not rely solely on the United States in terms of defense and security.
"It is up to us now to assume our duties and guarantee the security, and, therefore, the European sovereignty," Macron said.
The relations between Russia and the European Union have been strained lately as Moscow has faced accusations of chemical and cyberattacks. Russian officials have strongly denied allegations as groundless.
In March, a former Russia spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were hospitalized in the United Kingdom after an exposure to what the UK authorities said was a military grade nerve agent. London said Moscow was behind the attempt on the Skripals' life. Russian authorities have pointed out that this allegation had not been substantiated and their proposal to assist in the investigation had not been answered.
