“It’s absurd and contributes to the weakening of French diplomacy”, according to a former ambassador

“The idea of ​​creating a kind of interchangeability of diplomats with a sub-prefect or a postmaster is absurd”, declares Wednesday, June 1 on franceinfo the director of research at Iris Jean de Gliniasty. Former French ambassador to Russia, between 2009 and 2013, he criticizes the diplomatic corps reform project which will lead to a strike by diplomats on Thursday:“This lack of specialization in the profession is a serious error and contributes to the weakening of French diplomacy.”

“The job of diplomatcontinues the former ambassador, like that of prefect, it is not simply a training in languages, law or international relations. It is a profession that can be learned. It’s an experience.” For Jean de Gliniasty, one becomes an ambassador in “making a career” and starting “littlely” to positions of “basic diplomat”. “There is a whole series of negotiation procedures, habits and skills to be learned at the basehe explains. There are Chinese, Indians, Russians you have to know to negotiate. However, it is very difficult for an ambassador, cut off from the country, to go for a walk in bistros and to discuss with people. Basic diplomats can do it.”

The former French ambassador to Russia also notes a decline in French influence which can be seen in the state budgets. When he entered the Quai d’Orsay, “the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs represented 1% of France’s budget, not counting cooperation with Africa, which was a separate budget”,noted Jean de Gliniasty. Today, all of these two budgets that have since been merged together “made 0.7%” : “No need to tell you that in terms of influence, soft power or cultural exchanges, it is an absolutely incredible degradation of France’s means.”