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THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR to Ireland has said the Russian naval tests off Ireland are “unhelpful, not welcome” and offered his country’s support to Ireland.
Vincent Guérend spoke to The Journal about the security concerns of the French Government around the Irish coast.
The French coast is the nearest mainland European country to the test location – they are also our closest EU state.
The Ambassador has said that Ireland and his Government’s diplomatic ties are presently at their strongest.
Guérend said that French naval and air force were actively monitoring the Russian movements and had noticed an increase in activity in recent weeks in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and in general around Europe.
He said that the French embassy had received word on Sunday that the Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney would raise the Russian activity in Brussels at the Foreign Affairs Council.
Guérend said the Dublin Embassy immediately began working with their colleagues in Paris to support the Irish Government.
“We fully support Ireland’s stance on the matter. And we believe, and you can certainly quote me, that these exercises, if they are indeed rolled out they will be unhelpful.
“Particularly, in the current circumstances [Ukraine tensions], and more generally, we have underlined [the need] for dialogue and transparency and previsibility [foresight] of military activities in Europe through the OSCE which is the frame where dialogue on all military treaties and conventional treaties should take place,” he said.
The French and other NATO member states have issued a number of demands to the Russian Government in the wake of the threat of invasion of Ukraine.
One key area of the demand is a greater “transparency” by Vladimir Putin’s Government in regard to the activities of his military.
Increased patrols
Guérend said that the French military has increased patrols off their Atlantic coast and in the Mediterranean where Russian vessels have been spotted.
Critically the French Ambassador revealed that his country’s forces have witnessed a marked increase in Russian military movements in European waters including “quasi-civilian ships”.
“We also have observed some more intense Russian maritime activity around the French coast recently.
“If you look at the French Navy tweet thread, we deliberately tweeted some videos of the exchanges between our Navy patrols and Russian vessels which are sometimes civilian or quasi-civilian Russian vessels, which in our view, requires some questions.
“And so we are very much raising our guards, because we believe this situation requires it. And so we very much understand how the Irish Government feels in this regard. And again, we fully support you,” he added.
The French navy has joined with a German naval ship to carry out joint patrols.
A French and a German frigate are currently patrolling jointly off the coast of Britanny. #EU, #StrongerTogether 🇨🇵🇪🇺🇩🇪 @defenceforces @naval_service @dfatirl https://t.co/jpgstdndQv
— Vincent Guérend (@vincentguerend) January 25, 2022
Guérend also spoke about the French view on Ukraine and how the response to any Russian incursion must be EU wide.
The ambassador also said there does not need to be a physical incursion but that any attack on Ukraine should elicit a European wide response.
“More generally, of course, we believe that both NATO and the EU Member States should continue to give utmost attention to the ongoing developments at the border between Ukraine and Russia and at the border of Ukraine with other neighbours.
“That’s something which continues to focus our utmost attention. And as you know, the EU line is very clear on the matter regarding any encroachment on the Ukrainian territorial integrity or indeed sovereignty,” he added.
The Ambassador said that sovereignty did not just mean a physical invasion but “any attempt to destabilise the government”. He said any such action would have major “consequences for Russia” which would include sanctions.
Neutrality
The Journal asked the Ambassador about France’s opinion of Ireland’s commitment to neutrality.
“Of course I know that’s kind of a burning question for many of us diplomats. And the Irish neutrality, is something which we observed with a lot of interest, sometimes intrigued, sometimes impressed by the way you have also evolved around this neutrality,” he said.
Guérend said that he does not believe Ireland should join Nato but instead should focus on a commitment to assist in European security.
“I don’t think that Ireland should almost accede to Nato. But I think indeed, that the world we live in today is probably more challenging than 20 years ago, 30 or 40 years ago,” he said.
The Ambassador said that the physical barrier of the sea around Ireland was not enough to protect the State.
He also said that the threat environment has changed considerably in the last 30 to 40 years and it features the potential for hybrid attacks which include cyber attacks.
“EU, as a whole should raise its awareness and raise its capability to withstand external threats. So this, in our view, of course, applies to all member states,” he added.
Macron talks
On Wednesday there were more than eight hours of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Paris.
Reports stated that the meetings were “difficult” but sent a “good signal”, an aide to French President Emmanuel Macron told AFP.
Describing the discussions as an opportunity “to test Russia’s desire to negotiate”, the aide told reporters: “In the current circumstances, we received a good signal.”
On Tuesday Macron said he would hold talks with Vladimir Putin on Ukraine on Friday.
“I will have telephone talks with the president on Friday morning,” Macron said alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying the talks would be part of a “demanding dialogue” with Russia and provide the chance to gain “clarification” over Moscow’s Ukraine strategy.
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If I’m reading that right, he was well within his rights to pursue that in court and deserved the compensation he got
Must have been some toilet visit concidering it aged him bout 30 year years in the process
I was wondering how the insurance on my train station was so high this year.
It’s PC gone mad!
Gone are the days when you could be dragged out of the jacks with your pants around your ankles, beaten by a Garda and sent home to you mother and be thankful for it.
Well there was time travel involved. The cubicle is obviously a portal of some description.:-?
Clearly a case for the Doctor, only a time lord can figure this one out.
I remember seeing one of those rail security guys kick and push a homeless man at Connolly one day for no reason at all. They are on some sort of power trip and get a kick out of pushing people about, some day they will push someone too far and god knows what could happen.
I’ve had the displeasure of meeting a few of these security guards, once at a hospital they flatly refused to get a wheelchair for my dying mum who was being admitted as a medical emergency because I was parked in the wrong spot. Second time was at a hotel in Dublin they started banging on the door accusing us of smoking and threatening us with fines, they obviously had the wrong room and no apology was forthcoming even after I showed them in. My eldest at the time had done a round the world trip he said the eastern bloc people are grand and friendly, just don’t put them behind a counter or in a uniform it’s then the Soviet in them takes over.
Since when is it the job of rail security guards to get a wheelchair for your mother at a hospital??
agree, far less serious but I recall one guy pulling me aside a day I forgot my student travelcard and deliberately embarrass me, got my ticket and wrote on it failure to produce I.D., thats fair enough but for no good reason shout and announce he didnt believe I was a student (yah I just got a backpack on for the craic) humiliating me in front of a busy train station and was pretty sure I saw them givin another lady a hard time on a diff occasion.
You stay classy there tam. I have some calamine lotion for that burn if you’d like to borrow it
What burn?
€10,500 for spending a penny……….
Hardly grounds for deportation??
The racist comment above mine was deleted the seems, you could’ve at least deleted mine so as as mine makes no sense now.
He deserved it. Pity it won’t come out the “security” mans pocket.
Smoke rising from the cubicle and he pinching a loaf. Must have been a bad night on the Guinness
Heuston we have a problem!
I’ll allow anyone to kick the door in on me for quarter of the price
The toilets were one of the last few places you could have a sit-down in Heuston. Every time I go there lately they’ve removed more and more seating from the station.
And you wonder how insurance prices are going up?
They might be a tad smarter on who they employ the next time so.
Fell into shit and came out smelling of roses
“had gone to the rest room to use the toilet”
Rest room? Was he transported to the US?
Hopefully he will get over this horrific tragedy and buy an 05 volkswagon passat 1.6 l and get a holiday out of it in asia and use some of the toilets over there that have no doors on them and then he wont have to worry about anybody kickin the door in…..
€10.5 K. Wow.
Caught with his pants round his ankles.
Security guards coked up to the eyeballs themselves
Well lf was embarrassed before he must be glowing red with shame now.. nobody knew anything about it before… whereas now its on the internet… I suppose the money will heal his pain.. maybe he’ll spend half on counseling and the rest on the holiday of a lifetime..
Id say security work can be a tough job at times , trying to reason with awkward members of the public , some who are under the influence of drugs & alcohol , do godders & Bible bashers telling you the law , maybe it’s best to turn a blind eye to certain things !!
The ‘do godders’ can be troublesome hoors indeed.
So was he $hitting it before or after the security man barged in?
Often wonder why, when an incident like this is found proven that the private security thugs don’t personally loose their licence to work…….permanently!!!
It’d be an excellent incentive for them to behave reasonably when dealing with members of the public. All too often I’ve noted these very STT employees behave like Nazi boot boys
I don’t understand the logic in “Judge Linnane, who heard there had been several hours difference between the time Masterson said he had been defamed and the incident involving Kozlovas, said the defence case – that Masterson’s claim was a fabrication – had “evaporated” in the witness box when Kozlovas was called.”
Surely, it could be read the other way: Masterson’s case has evaporated.
They don’t seem to bat an eyelid the when there’s someone smoking crack on the redline luas.
Spend a penny to get ten grand good business
There are a few Luas and train stations like this in Dublin with under trained ‘security’ walking around dazed and confused looking for something to do.
Q
uite so.
have your say