The Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirms Madagascar’s posture in the face of the conflict in Ukraine and other sources of international tension. He also made an update to dispel doubts.
Madagascar is a neutral country. This is what Richard Randriamandrato, Minister of Foreign Affairs, underlined during a press conference yesterday in Anosy. A point he made at the start of the meeting and reaffirmed in response to a question from journalists.
“Know that the friends of our friends are not necessarily our friends and that the enemies of our friends are neither our friends nor our enemies. Madagascar is a country open to all people of goodwill who wish to help us, accompany us in the development of the country in order to achieve the objective set by the President of the Republic which is to make Madagascar an emerging country”, declares entered the head of the Malagasy diplomacy.
This is the first press conference held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He drew a picture of the diplomatic situation of the Big Island. In view of the global situation, Madagascar’s choice to remain neutral vis-à-vis the war between Ukraine and Russia remains a must in the diplomatic field. Richard Randriamandrato thus made some clarifications in front of the journalists, yesterday. He, in particular, indicated that for the Big Island, it is his interests that take precedence.
We are not seeking to ally ourselves with such and such a country, or such and such an economic or military power”, maintains the head of the Malagasy diplomacy, making the report with the centers of international tension.
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He adds that the Big Island is “friends”, with those who want to accompany him in his quest for emergence. “Russia is present with its means, its capacities to accompany us in this way. As well as the United States, France, the Chinese and of course countries in Africa who wish to accompany us on this path,” he adds.
Half-heartedly, the member of the government suggested that his clarifications are in response to apprehensions and opinions expressed by Western diplomats on Madagascar’s posture in the face of the war between Ukraine and Russia. Recently, in an interview, Claire A. Pierangelo, Ambassador of the United States, expressed her regret that the Big Island did not affirm its support for Ukraine.
Before her, it was Christophe Bouchard, Ambassador of France, who underlined the importance of the Ukraine dossier in political relations between France and Madagascar. Giovanni Di Girolamo, outgoing ambassador of the delegation of the European Union (EU), also affirmed his “disappointment” following the decision of the Malagasy authorities to remain neutral. Yesterday, Richard Randriamandrato, however, noted that Madagascar has no problem with anyone. On the contrary, the Big Island has consolidated its relations with the main Western powers. “We are not in this strategic alliance configuration. We are far from the ground of disagreement between Ukraine and Russia. (…) But we are not indifferent. Neutrality does not mean indifference.
We are not looking to be allies of any power at this time. Far from it”, insists the Minister of Foreign Affairs. On his way, he reaffirmed Madagascar’s attachment to its relations with African States and to cooperation within regional or sub-regional organizations of the continent.
