Thierry Mariani says France doesn't need sanctions against Russia

The deputy of the National Assembly of France, co-chairman of the Franco-Russian Dialogue Association, Thierry Mariani, told Vestnik Kavkaza that France doesn't have a consensus regarding the need to maintain sanctions against Russia, in fact, many citizens simply do not understand the policy of constant pressure on the Russian Federation.

"I came with a French delegation of 17 deputies, which arrived in Moscow on an official visit to mark our position on the policy of sanctions imposed by Europe. I'm heading a Franco-Russian Dialogue with Vladimir Yakunin in France. Today we met with Leonid Slutsky and Sergei Naryshkin to discuss the possibility of promotion of certain ideas related to cooperation with Russia in France," he said."Thee are more than 1200 French companies in Russia, France is the second largest investor in Russia. I also had a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce of France in Moscow, and I note that none of the French companies has left Russia, despite the difficulties in the banking and financial sectors. By the way, at the level of ordinary citizens of France, I can say for sure, a lot of French people do not understand the European sanctions policy at all. And we are here to show that France has a mixed opinion about the pressure on the Russian Federation," Mariani said.The deputy head of the Editorial Council of Vestnik Kavkaza, the Director General of the Institute for Caspian Cooperation, Sergey Mikheyev, said that the fact that more and more voices in Europe at all levels are heard in its defense is important for Russia. "Of course, somewhere Russia's support is motivated by sincere sympathy, somewhere by political games, somewhere it's both at the same time. As a whole, regardless of whether it is truly and sincerely meant or not, we have one thing in common - the fact of recognition of the importance of Russia," he said.The deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Andrey Klimov, in his turn, said that the layer of sensible people who understand the Russian position has never disappeared in the West. "Even in the darkest times there are those who are with us among those who are against us, and those who remain neutral. Yes, now it is profitable for global media, which serves the interests of Washington,  to show Russophobic moods and to talk about Russia's isolation. In fact, there is no isolation, and we feel that in every country, including in the West, there are people who understand our position and support it," Andrei Klimov concluded.

"I came with a French delegation of 17 deputies, which arrived in Moscow on an official visit to mark our position on the policy of sanctions imposed by Europe. I'm heading a Franco-Russian Dialogue with Vladimir Yakunin in France. Today we met with Leonid Slutsky and Sergei Naryshkin to discuss the possibility of promotion of certain ideas related to cooperation with Russia in France," he said.

"Thee are more than 1200 French companies in Russia, France is the second largest investor in Russia. I also had a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce of France in Moscow, and I note that none of the French companies has left Russia, despite the difficulties in the banking and financial sectors. By the way, at the level of ordinary citizens of France, I can say for sure, a lot of French people do not understand the European sanctions policy at all. And we are here to show that France has a mixed opinion about the pressure on the Russian Federation," Mariani said.

The deputy head of the Editorial Council of Vestnik Kavkaza, the Director General of the Institute for Caspian Cooperation, Sergey Mikheyev, said that the fact that more and more voices in Europe at all levels are heard in its defense is important for Russia. "Of course, somewhere Russia's support is motivated by sincere sympathy, somewhere by political games, somewhere it's both at the same time. As a whole, regardless of whether it is truly and sincerely meant or not, we have one thing in common - the fact of recognition of the importance of Russia," he said.

The deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Andrey Klimov, in his turn, said that the layer of sensible people who understand the Russian position has never disappeared in the West. "Even in the darkest times there are those who are with us among those who are against us, and those who remain neutral. Yes, now it is profitable for global media, which serves the interests of Washington,  to show Russophobic moods and to talk about Russia's isolation. In fact, there is no isolation, and we feel that in every country, including in the West, there are people who understand our position and support it," Andrei Klimov concluded.