Leaving country, Ambassador of France calls Belarus to “Do not lose hope”

Nicolas de Bouillane de Lacoste should continue his remote mission as Special Envoy from France for Belarus.

by and

In a video of a minute published on the website of the French Embassy after his departure, Nicolas de Bouillan de Lacoste announcement, the traits drawn: “My wife and I must have a helus leave Belarus.” Position for less than a year in Minsk – appointed by decree in September 2020, he took office in November, four months after the fraudulent re-election of Alexander Loukachenko at the head of the country -, the French ambassador was summoned by Minsk leaving the territory at the end of an ultimatum that expired Monday, October 18th. Party The night before, the diplomat explains by addressing the Belarus: “As you know, France did not recognize the result of the election of August 9, 2020 and I did not give my credentials. “

This specialist in Eastern Europe, formerly councilor, in particular, at the French Embassy in Moscow between 2012 and 2016, adds to “spent here with difficult but unforgettable days”, before calling His audience “never lose hope in better days”. Throughout his message, Nicolas de Lacoste, 57, speaks in Belarusian, a language now privileged by the opposition to the detriment of Russian, remained the official language in this former Soviet Republic. It earned him thanks to the social networks on the part of the opponents and a volley of green wood, at the limit of the insult, supporters and certain media close to the plan.

The ambassador, however, does not give up. While condemning Minsk’s “unjustified decision” on Monday and announcing to have taken “proportionate measures” with regard to the Belarusian diplomatic representation in France – the ambassador, Igor Fissionnko, was “recalled” in his country -, Paris A Derechef named Nicolas de Lacoste Special sent from France for Belarus. It should officiate remotely, in connection with a business charge and the Embassy staff, maintained at this stage in Minsk. “France, as it does since the month of August 2020, in close and coherence with the positions defined with its partners of the European Union [EU], will continue to be held alongside the Belarusian people, in support of a sustainable political solution to the crisis experienced by Belarus, “the Quai d’Orsay said.

Less than ten EU countries still represented

This sudden tension is not surprising. As the total European countries, France did not recognize the re-election of Alexander Loukachenko for a sixth term, which is why M. de Lacoste merely present “the figured copy of these letters” to the Minister. Foreign affairs Belarusian. Then, before the fierce repression led by the regime against the vast protest movement that spacked throughout the territory, the European ambassadors had, a time, left the country, before, for some, to come back. Even today, on the twenty-seven EU Member States, less than ten remain on the spot. In August, Minsk also withdrew his agreement for the appointment of the American ambassador Julie Fisher, yet confirmed in December 2020 as the first United States envoy in this former Soviet Republic since 2008.

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/Media reports.