NATO needed wake-up call to talk genuine issues: Macron

NATO needed wake-up call to talk genuine issues: Macron

France's president said on Thursday he was glad that his recent comment that NATO had become "brain dead" sparked a discussion on genuine issues withi

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France’s president said on Thursday he was glad that his recent comment that NATO had become “brain dead” sparked a discussion on genuine issues within the alliance, rather than only financial ones.

Speaking at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Paris, Emmanuel Macron was asked if he still thought NATO was “brain dead”.

Macron said the last two NATO summits were strictly dedicated on how to reduce the financial burden on the U.S.

However, there were also other issues to discuss such as peace in Europe, the deposed Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty between Washington and Moscow, the relationship with Russia, the issue of Turkey and how to designate enemies.

“So maybe we needed a wake-up call,” he stressed.

Macron said he was glad that now, NATO could look into its purpose and ultimate goals.

France’s Macron denies accepting Putin’s missile proposal

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday denied having accepted a Russian proposal to impose a moratorium on missile deployments in Europe, but said it was important the Kremlin initiative not be simply dismissed.Russia has called on the United States and other countries to declare a moratorium on the deployment of short- and intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe after a treaty banning such a move formally ended in August.Macron, who met transatlantic alliance NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Paris for talks on Thursday, said France had “absolutely not accepted” the proposal, as suggested in leaks in the German press earlier this week.”But we considered that, as a basis for discussion, we shouldn’t just brush it off… Let’s be serious, this is the security of Europe we’re talking about,” he said.The Cold War-era Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) between Russia and the United States banned land-based missiles with a range of 310-3,400 miles, reducing the ability of both countries to strike at short notice.Macron said European countries should have a role to play in negotiations after the demise of the pact.”The INF treaty was revoked by the United States, but I remind you that it’s our security which is at stake. That of our European allies.””It implies that Europeans should be involved in this future treaty. We can’t outsource our security to a bilateral agreement in which no European is a stake-holder.”Acknowledging concerns in eastern Europe about his overtures to Russia, Macron said France would be “uncompromising” in defending European allies’ sovereignty if they were attacked, thanks to troops in the Baltics.”But has the absence of dialogue with Russia made the European continent any safer? … I don’t think so,” he added.On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Macron had replied to a moratorium proposal from President Vladimir Putin. NATO has called the proposal not “credible” and said Moscow has already deployed illegal missiles, something Russia denies.”Of course, (Macron’s) answer is not detailed. But at least, it expressed an understanding of (Russia’s) concern and a readiness for dialogue on this score,” Peskov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.The spokesman said Macron and Putin would discuss the proposal in Paris on Dec. 9, TASS news agency reported.

“We have the responsibility of not simply continuing to talk about financial issues, given what the genuine challenges are today,” he added.

Macron added that he wants to have a genuine discussion with Turkey over its operation in northern Syria and acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems.

For his part, Stoltenberg said that in recent years, NATO deployed the most reinforcements since the end of the Cold War.

“North America and Europe are doing more together than we have done for decades,” he said.

Stoltenberg said he welcomes EU efforts on defense and that if done in the right way, these efforts could strengthen NATO’s European pillar.

“But the EU cannot defend Europe. European unity cannot replace Transatlantic unity,” he stressed.

The meeting between Stoltenberg and Macron came ahead of a crunch summit of NATO leaders in London slated for Dec. 3-4.

Turkey dismisses Macron’s Syria criticism, says he sponsors terrorism

Turkey on Thursday dismissed recent comments by French President Emmanuel Macron against Turkey’s anti-terror operation in Syria.”Macron’s words, in my eyes, have no meaning,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, adding that the French leader “constantly hosts” terrorists at the Elysee Palace in Paris.Citing a statement by German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Ankara is a NATO ally, Cavusoglu urged Macron to stand by its allies.On Macron’s comments that the NATO alliance had become a “brain dead”, Cavusoglu said the French president disgruntled everyone, including NATO members, and drew criticism from all. “Right now, there is a void in Europe, he is trying to be its leader,” Cavusoglu said, adding that with such remarks, Macron could not be the leader of Europe.Macron on Thursday said Turkey should not expect the support of its NATO allies in its anti-terror operation in northern Syria.Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Under two separate deals with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey paused the operation to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned Syria safe zone.But the terrorists have failed to withdraw from some areas and continue to attack both soldiers and civilians.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.- ‘Macron must confront France’s actions in Africa’Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party also slammed Macron’s comments, with spokesman Omer Celik saying: “Macron should first face the situation of his own country which has held operations all over Africa to protect its colonial interests in disregard to [international] law.”Celik also said: “Macron’s words on Syria is nothing more than France’s intention to keep its colonial past in Syria alive with bright sentences.”On Macron’s previous comments on NATO, Celik said that the critics of Turkey’s fight against terror also worked towards Europe’s “brain death”.