By RFPosted on 26-10-2019Modified on 26-10-2019 at 07:16

No Malagasy authority had yet spoken to express the affront of Emmanuel Macron who, during his visit, reaffirmed the French sovereignty over the Scattered Islands, leaving the Internet unleashed on the Web. Friday night, at the microphone of RFI, the Malagasy Prime Minister spoke for the first time on the subject.

Wednesday, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, on the beach of one of the five Scattered Islands, the French president released : " We will say that I am disconnected because I am at the beach, while there is strikes in the metropolis, but no, here it is France, it is not a hollow idea ". An unequivocal reaffirmation of French sovereignty over a territory claimed by Madagascar and for which it was agreed last May by the two presidents that negotiations would begin this year.

"Every country has its agenda"

Thursday afternoon, it is by a tweet that President Andry Rajoelina reacted to this unexpected exit of Emmanuel Macron. " Respect for territorial integrity and the defense of our interests require dialogue, " he writes.

► To read also: On Grande Glorieuse Island, Macron sends a signal for the protection of biodiversity

Prime Minister Christian Ntsay met with him the French head of state in Reunion, just hours after his shattering statement. Without commenting. Speaking for the first time Friday, he puts it on the account of a difference of political agendas and puts the points on the "i". " Every country has its agenda. This agenda belongs to the president you are talking about (Editor's note: Emmanuel Macron). The agenda we know is the agenda that was determined following the meeting in May between the two presidents, he recalls. We have agreed on a first meeting of this joint commission in a few weeks. And I do not see why we should deviate from this roadmap that was decided by the presidents of the Republic. "

Negotiations from 18 November

On 18 November, in Madagascar, representatives of the two countries will meet for the first time around a table to begin negotiations on the ownership and management of these Scattered Islands. At the moment, nothing has yet filtered through the main lines of the project. Neither on the identity of the people who will represent the Malagasy part.

" The final decision on the composition of the Malagasy delegation goes to the President of the Republic, " said the Malagasy Prime Minister.

On the other hand, Christian Ntsay announced the establishment of a national consultation for, he says, "to collect all the opinions of the forces of the nation on a fundamental issue for the country. "

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