Statements by French Deputy Foreign Minister Clement Bona about Russian and Chinese vaccines against coronavirus are discriminatory and at the same time, most likely, are the position of Paris, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

“Considering that this is not the first such inadmissible statement by the French Foreign Ministry, this is not the personal opinion of an amateur, but the political position of the country.

So, we will talk in a different way.

We condemn France for such discriminatory statements by its high-ranking representative, which revive the spirit of neo-Nazi segregation in Europe, ”Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel.

“Bon is not a virologist to lecture on this subject to sovereign states, linking medicine with national identity.

This is more of the functional duties of Dr. Goebbels, ”the diplomat said.

On Sunday, July 11, Bon, in an interview with Radio Europe 1, expressed regret that Greece is allowing passengers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with Russian and Chinese drugs on its territory.

“I am sorry that Greece did this.

I also note that Greece, whose control system has shown some unreliability in recent weeks, has systematically tightened checks at the entrance to the country, "Bon said.

At the same time, he called it preferable that all EU countries recognize only vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

“I don’t know about 'reprehensible', this is a harsh expression, but, as we have already stated, we would prefer, we wish, that

only four vaccines that have received approval are

recognized in Europe (for the entry of foreigners. -

RT

) - and this is not a question political and scientific from our common European Medicines Agency.

Only these four vaccines are recognized by the overwhelming majority of European countries, including France, only three countries have chosen a different course, ”Bon said.

  • Maria Zakharova

  • RIA News

  • © Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

According to Maria Zakharova, such statements demonstrate that the French Foreign Ministry "is insulting for its state, which has not managed to develop its own vaccine."

“The efforts of the French company, which tried very hard but failed, failed.

We sympathize with France's failure.

One could honestly say to Clement Bon: France could not produce its vaccine, we envy everyone who could, we have been tasked with propaganda methods to counteract the success of countries that have demonstrated the achievements of their science to the world, ”Zakharova noted.

The diplomat also drew attention to the fact that earlier the head of the French coronavirus vaccine committee, Marie-Paul Chieny, said that she considered the Russian Sputnik V an effective vaccine.

“She's just not a propagandist, like Clement Bon, but a virologist - Research Director of the French Medical Research Institute INSERM,” stated Zakharova.

"Irresponsible position"

Among other things, in an interview with Europe 1, Bon stressed that French citizens vaccinated with Russian and Chinese vaccines will not be able to receive a vaccination certificate in their country.

“Having received a Russian or Chinese vaccine, it will not be possible to return to the territory of our country and receive a vaccination certificate.

And not because we discriminate against some countries, but only because only these four vaccines have received approval from the European Medicines Agency, ”Bon said.

It is worth noting that Bon had already made similar statements a few days ago.

So, on July 8, in an interview with France 2 TV channel, he said that EU countries should not recognize the COVID-19 vaccines developed in China and Russia.  

  • Clement Bon

  • Reuters

  • © Benoit Tessier / Pool

Bon also stressed that the list of drugs that can be recognized in France and that will open access to its territory for people vaccinated by them should be limited to those vaccines that Paris is "confident" in.

“That is, four - yes, there are not many of them, of course, because we are very specific and strict (we approach this. -

RT

) - four, which are now recognized in France and Europe.

There are countries like Spain that have tried or are currently recognizing some vaccines, such as Russian or Chinese.

We told our European partners and repeat once again: be careful and say no to these vaccines, "Bon said at the time.

This position was criticized both in Moscow and in Beijing.

State Duma Speaker Viacheslav Volodin said that the position of the French Foreign Ministry on non-recognition of Russian and Chinese vaccines against coronavirus is irresponsible and shortsighted.

“Once again, we hear a statement that betrays the true values ​​of those who are in charge of politics in France.

An irresponsible and short-sighted position that ignores both the interests of its own citizens and the sound voices of politicians and scientists that sound in Europe itself, ”Volodin said.

In turn, the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, called Bon's position unacceptable.

He noted that vaccination issues should not be subject to political interference.

According to the diplomat, in a pandemic, the countries of the world should strive for solidarity, and not sow discord and intensify contradictions. 

It is worth noting that Bon had previously criticized not only European countries that approved the Russian vaccine, but also a number of French regions.

So, in April, he expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that local authorities in several regions of France made a preliminary order for the supply of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which, in Bon's opinion, is "irresponsible."

At the same time, the diplomat assured that Paris does not oppose the Russian vaccine as such, but urges to wait for the decision of the European regulator.

  • Viacheslav Volodin

  • RIA News

  • © Ramil Sitdikov

In turn, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, directly linked the issue of access of Russian and Chinese drugs from COVID-19 to the European market with politics.

Thus, during his visit to Dubrovnik on July 10, he announced the need to respond to "vaccine diplomacy", which, according to him, Russia and China are resorting to.

Borrell believed that these countries "use vaccines to achieve their goals."

“These countries are promoting“ vaccine diplomacy ”all over the world, we must know about this and act based on this knowledge,” the head of European diplomacy was quoted by the Croatian publication Total Croatia News.

Against this background, experts say, the consideration of the Russian application in the EMA is being delayed.

The agency began an examination of Sputnik V back in March, but so far no results have been made public.

Meanwhile, the Sputnik V vaccine is being successfully used in dozens of countries around the world.

Thus, the high quality of Russian development following the results of vaccination of about 7 million citizens was ascertained by the Ministry of Health of Argentina.

At the beginning of July, the department published a report, which stated that mild side effects were recorded in only 0.55% of those vaccinated with the Russian vaccine, and hospitalization after the Sputnik V injection was required in 0.0027% of cases.

In April 2021, they published data on the use of the Russian drug and the Hungarian authorities, which had been collecting them since December 2020.

Local experts compared the effectiveness of Sputnik V with other drugs used in the country.

According to the data obtained, among those vaccinated by Sputnik V, there was the lowest average number of infections per 100 thousand vaccinated - 95. For Moderna, this figure was 177, SinoPharm - 356, Pfizer - 555, and AstraZeneca - 700.

The average mortality rate recorded after vaccination was also lower for Sputnik V: one case per 100 thousand vaccinated.

For AstraZeneca, this figure is seven, for SinoPharm - 16, for Moderna and Pfizer - 20 and 32, respectively, the RDIF reported.

At the moment, Sputnik V has already been approved for use in 67 states.

Such authoritative scientific publications as The Lancet and Nature published articles on the effectiveness of the Russian drug.

"Not ready to share their spheres of influence"

According to analysts, the information attacks on Sputnik V and the delay in the process of its registration in the EU are connected with the fact that the West does not want to allow a competitor to enter its market.

“I think that they will not recognize the Russian vaccine as long as there is a real need for it, as long as there is demand in the market.

When there is no urgent need for it, and the pandemic is over, then they can recognize it, ”Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Research, said in a conversation with RT.

A similar position is shared by Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State Pedagogical University.

According to him, the EU deliberately prevents the spread of the Russian vaccine.

This "inhuman policy is dictated by geoeconomic interests," the analyst said.

“This is a colossal market for vaccine sales.

Given that the pandemic is not going to retreat yet, demand will persist for a long time.

Therefore, countries whose vaccines occupy corresponding market shares will receive preferences for many years to come.

Western pharmaceutical companies are not ready to share their spheres of influence with Russia, ”says Shapovalov.

  • "Sputnik V"

  • RIA News

  • © Vitaly Belousov

From his point of view, the position of the West on this issue is unambiguously also politically motivated.

“Western countries are unhappy with the fact that Russia was the first to create a vaccine.

And one of the best, if not the best.

This causes serious bewilderment in Western society, because for many years it was told that the Russian economy was torn to shreds and that the country had lost its scientific potential.

This rabid propaganda turned out to be an absolute lie.

Now the West is trying to slow down the process of recognizing the obvious successes that the Russian Federation has achieved, ”Shapovalov believes.

At the same time, the expert agreed with the assessment of Maria Zakharova, who called Bon's statements discriminatory.

“These are absolutely discriminatory words and actions.

By the way, for some reason it is France that takes the position of an implacable opponent of the Russian vaccine.

The paradox is that this is the only country - a permanent member of the UN Security Council, whose science and industry have not been able to create their own vaccine.

Maybe there is some jealousy in this for the successes of other countries, ”Shapovalov said.

According to Bruter, in the current situation, individual states, based on their national interests, can, following the example of Greece, recognize "Sputnik V", which will allow tourists from the Russian Federation to enter their territory.

“For some countries, relations with Russia are fundamentally important regardless of what Brussels thinks about this.

This will happen on an individual basis, but at the EU level, recognition in the near future can hardly be expected, ”the expert predicts.

In turn, Shapovalov believes that the issue of the use of Russian vaccines in the EU and the admission of Russians vaccinated by them to the EU should be divided.

He believes that in order to attract tourists, entry to European countries for Russians may be opened before the use of Sputnik V in these states is approved.

“Russian tourists occupy one of the leading places in the tourist flow to the EU countries, along with the Americans and the Chinese.

Tourism plays a significant role in the EU economy, therefore Brussels is interested in Russians visiting Europe.

In this regard, the recognition of vaccinated Russians will most likely occur faster than Russian vaccines, ”the analyst concluded.