The President of Brazil presses on Macron. He also talks about genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva called on Thursday in Paris the leader of France Emmanuel Macron to conclude a free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur block countries. At a press conference, Lula da Silva criticized Israel's actions and talked about “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

Lula Da Silva appealed to the President of France to “opens his heart a bit to sign an agreement” with Mercosur countries. “This agreement would be the best response of our countries, in the (current) uncertain context caused by returning to (…) customs protectionism,” he said.

At a press conference, he used the word “genocide” in relation to Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, where the war with Palestinian Hamas is underway. “What is happening in gas is not a war,” he said.

For its part, Macron announced that in the coming days France would decide whether “specific steps” should be taken in relation to Israel.

Paris does not agree to the Mercosur agreement in its current form, negotiated by the European Commission, which conducts the EU trade policy. The EC finished talks and concluded a political agreement with four countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. After the legal review, the EC will send a proposal to ratify the contract to the European Union member states.

Before the visit of the President of Brazil, MPs met with representatives of the agricultural industry on Wednesday and repeated their negative position on the agreement on Wednesday. On the other hand, Brazil is convinced that in the situation of duties imposed by the US on their trade partners, the international context has changed and is beneficial to Mercosur.

The solemn welcome of the President of Brazil in Paris took place in the courtyard of the Inwalidian Palace. This is the first state visit of the president of this country in France since 2012. Lula da Silva announced that the purpose of his trip to France was to strengthen strategic ties. A dozen or so agreements are expected to be signed, in the field of: defense, energy, health, technology and environmental protection.

In the current international context – American duties and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East – France considers to be particularly important “finding contact points” with Brazil – they announced the source in the Elysee Palace. France considers Brazil to be an important “rising” country and emphasizes that it is currently chairmanship in the BRICS block.

As the sources announced, France wants to present the leaders of Brazil's current “state of affairs” in the war in Ukraine. Paris argues that “there is a robbed side, which is a victim of aggression, and an aggressor who corresponds to refusing to all the proposals of peace or dialogue” – reported representatives of the Elysee Palace. Brazil maintains a good relationship with Russia, and Lula da Silva was in Moscow at the celebration of May 9.

Paris counts on the role of Brazil, which in 2010 recognized the Palestinian state during a future conference on the Middle Eastern solution. France organizes this conference together with Saudi Arabia; It will take place in New York in mid -June. France would like this forum to revive efforts to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

During his visit to France, Lula Da Silva will take part in an international conference on the oceans, organized on June 9 in Nice.

From Paris Anna Wróbel (PAP)

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