France is ready to join the Crimean Platform, but there is a need to clarify its purpose, said French Ambassador to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins.
“This is a very challenging initiative. We, of course, are looking at it with great interest. We talked with Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova. There are contacts between the two ministries, and we will have more, that’s for sure because we have never recognized the situation in Crimea. We are also in contact with our EU colleagues on this issue and make arrangements with them on actions. This is what we are closely following from a diplomatic point of view,” de Poncins said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
At the same time, the French ambassador pointed out the need to clarify the purpose of this initiative.
“At the moment we are at a very preliminary stage. I met several times with Ms. Dzhaparova, they prepared information documents about this initiative. They are being considered in Paris and Brussels. But at the moment it is not entirely clear what the purpose of this platform is. As far as I understand, this is a platform for discussing the political situation in Crimea. It is useful, but it is still unknown for what purpose. In principle, we support it and I will answer your question – yes, we will join it. But, obviously, there is a need for clarification. Launch of the platform is scheduled for Aug. 23, so we have time,” he said.
