Presidential 2022: in Armenia, Valérie Pécresse addresses the Catholics of France
Audio 01:28
Valérie Pécresse, Les Républicains (LR) candidate for the 2022 French presidential election, visits the Erablur military cemetery in Yerevan, December 21, 2021, accompanied by Senator Bruno Retailleau and Michel Barnier, former candidate for the LR nomination for the presidential.
AFP - KAREN MINASYAN
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
A week after Eric Zemmour, it was Valérie Pécresse's turn to travel to Armenia for her first trip abroad as the Les Républicains (LR) candidate in the presidential election.
Unlike her far-right rival, she was able to meet high dignitaries.
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With our correspondent in Yerevan,
Constance Léon
It is a visit that allows Valérie Pécresse to show her attachment to the cause of the defense of Christians in the East.
With this trip to the Armenian Vatican, the LR candidate cuts this card a few days before Christmas.
A message to his Christian electorate in France.
After the Armenian genocide memorial, Valérie Pécresse gathered in the military cemetery where the dead from the Nagorno-Karabakh wars are buried, the last of which claimed more than 5,000 victims in 2020. A conflict between Armenia, supported by Moscow, to Azerbaijan linked in turn to Turkey.
Since then, France has tried to play a negotiating role within the Minsk group with Russia and the United States.
The Kremlin is posing as a peacemaker after imposing the ceasefire last year, leaving Paris and Berlin on the back burner.
Valérie Pécresse meanwhile offers a conference in Paris on Armenia, tackling President Macron in the process.
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To read also: Presidential 2022: Valérie Pécresse wants to do battle with Emmanuel Macron
"When the Christians of the East are attacked, it is Europe that we attack"
"
I clearly think that we could have done more,
" she denounces.
This Minsk group was not active during the war.
Moreover, today we must involve the entire EU because what is happening here in the Caucasus is a war that involves all of us.
Why ?
Because Armenia is Eastern Christians.
When they are attacked, it is Europe that is attacked with its values and its civilization.
"
Last week, Emmanuel Macron brought together the Azerbaijani and Armenian heads of state in Brussels.
A message addressed to Moscow to remind that France intends to retain a role in the negotiations, while it is preparing to take the presidency of the Council of the European Union at the beginning of January and for 6 months.
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Video: Why does Pécresse scare Macron?
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France
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Emmanuel Macron
christianity
Russia
Ukraine
Nagorno-Karabakh
Presidential France 2022
Valerie Pécresse
Eric Zemmour
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Presidential 2022: Valérie Pécresse wants to do battle with Emmanuel Macron