France summons Russian envoy over embassy Twitter cartoon that mocked Europe

Clement Beaune, France’s Secretary of State for European affairs, speaks on the European Railway Summit in Saint-Denis, close to Paris, France, February 21, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Picture

BRUSSELS, March 25 (Reuters) – Russia’s ambassador to France was summoned on Friday to the French Overseas Ministry over an earlier embassy Twitter submit that Paris deemed unacceptable, the international ministry stated.

The Russian Embassy in Paris on Thursday had posted an image depicting a physique mendacity on a desk known as “Europe” with characters representing america and European Union jabbing needles into it.

“We made that clear as we speak to the Russian Ambassador,” the ministry stated in an announcement despatched to Reuters. “We are attempting to keep up a demanding channel of dialogue with Russia and these actions are fully inappropriate.”

Chatting with reporters in Brussels, President Emmanuel Macron dismissed the cartoons as false propaganda.

“It is unacceptable. We consider in a respectful dialogue and can proceed it and which means respect on all sides. It is a mistake. It has been corrected and I hope it will not occur once more. We demanded it.”

France’s European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune had slammed the cartoon submit on Thursday calling it “a shame” in response to the drawing which had been posted earlier within the afternoon by the Twitter account of the Russia Embassy in France (@AmbRusFrance).

The image has since been faraway from the embassy’s feed.

The drawing implied that the European continent was being destroyed by insurance policies undertaken by america and the EU.

The needles, seen being jabbed into the physique illustrating Europe, contained phrases reminiscent of “NATO”, “COVID-19”, “Cancel Tradition” and “Sanctions”.

The Russian Embassy in Paris had timed its publication of the cartoon to coincide with Thursday’s unprecedented triple summit in Brussels of NATO, the G7 and the European Union to debate sort out Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.

Western leaders met in Brussels to strengthen their forces in Jap Europe, enhance army assist to Ukraine and tighten their sanctions on Russia as Moscow’s assault on its neighbour entered its second month. learn extra

French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to maintain dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and continues to talk recurrently with him as a part of efforts to get a ceasefire and start a reputable negotiation between Kyiv and Moscow.

Reporting by John Irish and Sudip Kar-Gupta; enhancing by Jonathan Oatis

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