French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for "close international cooperation" regarding the crisis in Afghanistan during phone conversations he held on Thursday with U.S. President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, according to the Elysee.
The French presidency stated that during his call with Biden, Macron stressed the "absolute necessity for quick and tangible coordination on the ground among allies to ensure the evacuation of our citizens and the Afghan women and men who worked with the allies, as well as those at risk." Macron added in the statement, "We cannot abandon them" as there is a "moral responsibility" on the part of the allies.
According to the Elysee's statement, Macron and Biden "agreed to enhance their joint efforts in the humanitarian and political fields and in combating terrorism in the coming days, particularly within the framework of the G7," which will hold a summit next week to discuss the Afghan issue.
Before his call with Biden, Macron had a similar conversation with Putin that lasted more than an hour and a half, during which the two presidents specifically discussed "priority expectations concerning the Taliban," which has taken power in Kabul. The statement clarified that at the forefront of what the international community expects from the radical Islamic movement is "the fight against drug and arms trafficking, the disruption of international terrorist movements, and respect for women's rights."
Furthermore, Macron and Putin "agreed to maintain close coordination in the coming days and weeks, both bilaterally and within the UN Security Council and the G20 framework."
Regarding the phone conversation between Macron and Draghi, the Elysee noted that both emphasized "the need for close cooperation" within the European Union "to evacuate Europeans and the most at-risk Afghans, as well as to anticipate the repercussions of the Afghan crisis."
Since the beginning of the week, the French president has discussed the situation in Afghanistan with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with this issue being a key topic at the G7 summit next week.
During his conversation with Putin, Macron again called for the release of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny "after a year since the assassination attempt he was a victim of, and in accordance with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights," according to the Elysee's statement. The French president also expressed hope that the legislative elections in Russia will be held in September "in line with the standards of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe," according to the statement.
