13 June, 2017
The French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Paris is willing to work with Moscow in the fight against terrorism in Syria.
On the subject of rights in Chechnya, Macron said he had discussed the reports with Putin and that they had agreed on a "very regular monitoring" of the situation.
And the AP notes that on Monday, he did not hesitate to say two Russian media outlets, Sputnik and Russia Today, acted as spreaders of "propaganda" during the campaign.
"It was serious that these foreign press organs - under whatever influence there may have been, I don't know - interfered by reporting serious falsehoods in a democratic campaign", Macron added.
Macron's campaign was the victim of a "massive hacking attack" two days before the May 7 election and the data was uploaded on the web.
Considering that Versailles was a prestigious place from which the royal power of a France was exercised, notably as the world's leading power during the reign of Louis XIV, Macron probably sought to indicate that Paris treats as equal with Moscow and subscribed to analysis that indicates that France has little reason to blush against Russian Federation.
Putin shook hands with Bishop Nestor of Chersonese, the representative of the Moscow Patriarch in France.
Footage of the handshake as the pair met for lunch at the US Embassy in Brussels ahead of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit last Thursday has gone viral.
Macron said he would make "not a single concession" to Russian Federation on the long-running conflict in Ukraine as he and his G-7 counterparts said they were prepared to strengthen sanctions against Moscow.
The first meeting of the Russian and French leaders lasted nearly three hours, with Macron saying that "Franco-Russian friendship" was at the heart of the talks.
It was also a chance for Macron to show France and the rest of Europe what kinds of issues will matter to him in global relations.
Putin said that sanctions placed on Russian Federation over its acts in Ukraine were "in no way" helping stabilize the situation.
Standing in the opulent Gallery of Great Battles, a spacious ode to France's military achievements, the two men vowed close cooperation in fighting terrorism - though it was plain that differences remain in their approaches to Syria, where the two countries back opposing sides.
"Our absolute priority is the fight against terrorism", he added, calling for the "eradication of terrorist groups" - and Isis in particular - through closer partnership with Russian Federation.
"I reminded him of the importance for France of the respect of all peoples and all minorities, all sensibilities in civil society", Macron said of Putin.
"We sought ... common ground [in dealing] with key issues of the global agenda".
The French leader said this issue demands "an inclusive political solution". One of the main issues tackled at the meeting was the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria whereby some Western nations have blamed Bashar al-Assad´s Government.
President Barack Obama had also pledged strong action against Syria if it crossed a "red line" by using chemical weapons.
"It is not for me to comment on Madame Le Pen's visit" to Moscow, Macron said in response to another question about the vote.
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