Ukraine and Syria dominate Gilmore’s French trip

The meeting between Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and French foreign minister Laurent Fabius yesterday was dominated by crises in Ukraine and Syria.

When the Ukrainian crisis started, France adopted a hard line towards Russia. Ireland was closer to the more conciliatory German position. Russia's subsequent actions, particularly the scheduling of a referendum in Crimea on Sunday, have unified the Europeans.

“We share deep preoccupation about what is happening in Crimea this weekend, and concern that the EU needs to respond thoroughly, and at the same time be ready to ensure this problem can be de-escalated,” Mr Gilmore said.

Mr Fabius repeatedly described France’s policy as one of “firmness and dialogue”. He outlined events over the next four days.

"Just before receiving Eamon, I was on the phone with [US secretary of state] John Kerry and [UN secretary general] Ban Ki-moon to go over what contacts must be made by Sunday.

Null and void
"The secretary of state will meet [Russian foreign minister] Sergei Lavrov, " Mr Fabius continued. "I'm on the phone daily to all the principal protagonists. The referendum planned for Sunday is against international law. It's a choice between Yes and Yes. International authorities have said it will be null and void."

On Monday, European foreign ministers will meet to decide on sanctions. On Tuesday, as agreed by the presidents of France and Russia, Mr Fabius and the French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will travel to Moscow “if it is useful”.

Mr Fabius did not answer the question whether France will cancel its €1.2 billion contract, concluded in 2011, to sell two Mistral warships to Russia. He insisted there must be a presidential election in Ukraine, and criticised Mr Lavrov for saying that “there’s no need for elections, because Yanukovich is president”.

'Bad faith'
The French foreign minister accused the pro-Russian camp of bad faith. "Some are contesting the validity of prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyak, who was elected by the Rada [parliament]. In discussions that my German and Polish colleagues and I had with Mr Yanukovich, it was understood that Mr Yatsenyak would be prime minister."

Mr Gilmore said the crisis in Syria “may have dropped down the priority in news bulletins, but it is the big humanitarian crisis of our time”.

The ministers also discussed the Israel-Palestine issue. Negotiations on a framework accord, initiated by Mr Kerry and due to end on April 29, have made no progress. Mr Gilmore said fighting between Israel and Islamic Jihad over the Gaza border this week weakened prospects for peace, as did the continuing development of Israeli settlements.

Shift in position
Until the presidencies of Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, France and Ireland were on the same wavelength regarding Israel and Palestine. In the last six years, there has been a marked shift in French policy towards Israeli government positions. "The Hollande administration has become like US neo-conservatives in its support for Israel," a former socialist cabinet minister commented.

Mr Gilmore praised France's military interventions in the Central African Republic and Mali, where Ireland has deployed eight members of the defence forces with a European training mission. France earlier made clear its hope that Ireland would send troops to the CAR, but Mr Fabius did not broach the subject.