FRANCE fully supports the establishment of defense cooperation with the Philippines, similar to its partners in the Indo-Pacific region, Ambassador Nicolas Galey said.
“We are happy that the Philippines clearly wants to play a bigger role in the region. Obviously, we are 100-percent available to have the same kind of cooperation with [your country], like the one we have with other countries in the world, and in this region like Malaysia and Australia,” Galey told reporters in an interview during the local celebration of France’s National Day, or Bastille Day, in Makati City.
“[France is] also an Indo-Pacific power. We have the second-largest economic zone in the world—thanks to the French territories in the Pacific and in the Indian Oceans, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and the Reunion Island…. This gives us a particular reason and motivation to have good cooperation with the Philippines,” the envoy said.
Aside from 8,000-strong French military complement, Galey mentioned that France also has naval bases posted in the said region.
In a separate interview in the same reception, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana told reporters that Manila would like to canvass for military equipment and submarines from the European country. “I plan to visit France this September and look at their equipment [to see if we can buy something from them]. It has been making [quality equipment for the longest time]. The [Philippine Navy considers] France as a source of our submarines,” the defense chief noted.
UNHRC resolution won’t affect ties
IN another development, Galey pointed out that the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution seeking a comprehensive review into Manila’s human-rights situation is not entirely the essence of relations between the Philippines and the states that supported it.
“We are friends with Iceland. We are friends with the Philippines. We are friends with many countries that have cosponsored or not cosponsored [the resolution]” the French ambassador told reporters in an interview.
“That is not the ‘alpha and omega’ of international relations. We have our views on the situation… We don’t think that our relations will be so much affected,” he added.
France and Sweden are among the non-UNHRC members that backed the recently adopted UN resolution. Under the UN system, nonmembers of the council can only cosponsor resolutions.
Among the 18 countries that voted “yes” included Argentina; Australia; Austria; the Bahamas; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Fiji; Iceland; Italy; Mexico; Peru; Slovakia; Spain; Ukraine; the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; and Uruguay.
A total of 14 nations, on the other hand, voted in the negative: Angola, Bahrain, Cameroon, Hungary, China, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and the Philippines.
Fifteen abstained, including Japan, South Africa, Brazil and Pakistan.
With the continued cooperation on various areas between the two nations, Galey is confident its friendship with Manila will endure.
“[It is], first of all, part of international diplomatic life. We may have differences and again, when we are friends and when we have been friends for so many years, I’m sure [we] want to continue to be friends,” the French ambassador emphasized.
Galey said Lorenzana’s presence at the event showed that the issue on the UN resolution “is something which is part of international life; which should not put in danger [the] very old and fruitful friendship between France and the Philippines.”
Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA
Image credits: Cezar Cruz Jr.