Former French President Francois Hollande lacks objectivity and sincerity in some of his descriptions of the Normandy Four summit on Ukraine, particularly in relation to the venue and conditions provided to the state leaders, in his book "Lessons of Power," Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said on Monday.
MINSK (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd September, 2018) Former French President Francois Hollande lacks objectivity and sincerity in some of his descriptions of the Normandy Four summit on Ukraine, particularly in relation to the venue and conditions provided to the state leaders, in his book "Lessons of Power," Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said on Monday.
On February 11, 2015, the leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine, including Hollande, who was in office at the time, met in Minsk. The talks went on through the night for sixteen hours and resulted in a document on the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict.
"I am outraged by the kinds of things that lack not only objectivity, but sincerity. I don't understand why Francois Hollande would even do it ... Some things [described in the book] are not true," Makei told tut.by outlet.
Makei questioned Hollande's use of the term "soulless" to describe the Independence Palace in Minsk, where the summit took place, stressing that "hardly any official building has a soul."
"Apparently, Hollande meant that the modern palace in Minsk was not as grandiose as his former residence, Elysee Palace," Makei said.
The Belarusian foreign minister pointed out that Belarus had lost a great number of historical buildings in World War II.
Makei added that it was the decision of the Normandy Four to remain in a room with uncomfortable chairs, mentioned by Hollande, rather than go to special rooms for meetings.
"As for the 'terrible sandwiches'... President of Belarus [Alexander Lukashenko] offered everyone dinner. I remember clearly the French president happily saying: 'Yes, let's have dinner." But [German] Chancellor [Angela] Merkel looked at Hollande harshly and said: 'We have no time for dinner, let's begin the work.' He got flustered and followed Merkel resignedly," Makei said.
The foreign minister said that sandwiches with lard, sausage, ham, cheese and fish were offered to the state leaders several times.
"Yes, there were no oysters, snails, frog's legs, pigeons. As much as the sum equal to $50,000 per day was allocated for food alone," the minister said.
Makei added that the leaders were given separate quarters for rest, but they refused to leave the palace until the end of the overnight summit.
