The quality of the secular relations between Madagascar and France was praised by Ambassador Bouchard yesterday. He, however, started his speech by highlighting a delicate subject in Madagascar’s international relations, that of the war in Ukraine.
Obstinate. France does not intend to let go of the matter when it comes to Madagascar’s position in the face of the war between Russia and Ukraine. This is what emerges from the speech of Christophe Bouchard, French ambassador, during the reception of July 14, at his residence, in Ivandry, yesterday.
The subject was raised from the outset by the diplomat. A way, obviously, to underline the importance of this file “in the political partnership”, between France and Madagascar. He even extended it to the political relationship between the Big Island and the European Union (EU). The ambassador emphasized the “universal and current” nature of the message of July 14, 1789, which is “that of freedom, equality, fraternity, that of human rights, that of the permanent fight for the dignity of women and men”.
By emphasizing these values put forward by the French national holiday, Christophe Bouchard justifies why he immediately attacks his speech with the war in Ukraine. But also, why France, whose voice he carries, insists on getting Madagascar to change its position on this issue. “We have not ceased and we will continue to make every effort to support Ukraine, to achieve an end to the fighting and a just and lasting peace (…) we also wish to continue the dialogue everywhere in the world and here in Madagascar,” he said.
The diplomat ensures, however, that this step to change the Malagasy position on the subject of the war between Ukraine and Russia is done “with respect for the opinion and sovereignty of each, of course, but also with conviction”. He maintains, in fact, that for France, “we cannot be neutral between those who invade and those who are invaded, between those who bomb and those who die under the bombs”. On his way, he adds, “our ambition for a real political partnership between France, the European Union and Madagascar must guide us in this direction”.
In early March, Madagascar affirmed its neutrality on the conflict in Eastern Europe. Neutrality confirmed before the United Nations. “A joint approach”, formulated by its main international partners, at the end of February, a few days following what they describe as a Russian invasion in Ukraine, did not change the Big Island’s mind.
Still relevant
The delegation of the European Union, France, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Norway and Turkey are the signatories of the February joint approach. An act given to Patrick Rajoelina, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time. In no uncertain terms, they called on Madagascar to publicly condemn the Russian armed incursion into Ukraine. Following the neutrality affirmed by the Big Island, the EU delegation expressed its “disappointment”.
Blaming the blow, Giovanni Di Girolamo, EU ambassador, said during a press conference on March 9, “We are a bit disappointed, but we are continuing to work. (…) We work normally”. A way of saying that Madagascar’s decision to remain neutral in the face of the conflict in Ukraine does not affect cooperation with Europe and its members. Indeed, this episode probably had no effect on the international relations of the Big Island, in particular, vis-à-vis the Europeans.
Although he reassured that Europe has not changed the way it works in Madagascar, Ambassador Di Girolamo added, “we also have a duty to explain to you our point of view, which is also that of a hundred forty countries and not just that of the European Union”. A posture reiterated by Christophe Bouchard yesterday. Speaking on behalf of the government during the reception at the France residence in Ivandry yesterday, Richard Randriamandrato, Minister of Foreign Affairs, did not respond to the underlined words at the start of his host’s speech.
After the diplomatic turmoil from the end of February until the beginning of April, the question of the war in Ukraine has settled down in public debates in Madagascar. As stated yesterday, relations with its international partners are following their normal course, at least seen from the outside. To stick to the speech of the ambassador of France, yesterday, the subject is always topical behind the scenes. Especially since, as in the rest of the world, the conflict impacts the daily life of Malagasy households with its disastrous consequences on the cost of living.
