Edith Cresson about Russia and European Union


As General De Gaulle said, “Europe goes from Atlantic to Urals” – that what he said. And I think that it’s true. These words have been difficult to apply for a long time but now there is absolutely no reason that we wouldn’t cooperate, and we have lots of things to do with Russia.

 Of course, France. France is certainly in the United Union - the country which has more links with Russia. The more common history, lots of Russian has settled down in France. And we’re very much attracted by Russia. Of course, it’s business, it’s not only business, it’s sort of attachment to Russia. Myself and my family have some Russian people. And, well, it’s more or less a country, where I would bring my children and now my grandchildren in order that they discover Russia. My father-in-law was a great surgeon, doctor. And he was in Saint Petersburg at the moment of the revolution. And we have part in history, my family with Russia.

Myself I’ve been several times as a minister. For the negotiations in Russia. And I have always had a feeling that … it’s never easy to discuss ... I mean there’s a sort of common way of seeing things, opinions about things, and I like it very much. I’m very much attracted by everything which is Russian - the literature, of course, the music, the art ...

And so, I think we have very close links and we should develop it.  I know that this opinion is not , perhaps, shown by everybody inside the European Union , including, of course, the eastern countries, and also the Commission. And I should say that you certainly would find in France a great help in order to overcome those problems.

European Union and Russia – it’s one thing . Whom do you meet? You  meet the sort of bureaucracy and nothing else. But try to meet the French government or President of the Republic, somebody from the presidency is here. They say the same thing that I do. So, to overcome those institutions and try to negotiate with the countries of Europe, of course, France. And I think, I believe, that we would be very much in favor of this closer links. I can say it for France anyhow. Whether it is one side or the other or political parties - We all share the same opinions about Russia.
CRESSON Edith

Former Prime Minister of France (1991 - 1992), the first and still the only woman at the head of the French government.


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