The government of François Legault must put pressure on the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) so that it officially denounces the Russian invasion in Ukraine, supports the liberal leader Dominique Anglade.
Ms Anglade said it is abnormal that the OIF has not yet taken a stand, unlike most organisations, including the Commonwealth, which have opposed the military operation led by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Beyond the promotion of Francophone interests, the OIF’s mission is to defend democracy and human rights, underlined the Liberal leader.
“I don’t know what the Legault government is waiting for to put real pressure on the OIF, she said in an interview with the Homework. We are full members of this international organization. »
Ms. Anglade pointed out that Ukraine is also an observer member of the OIF, which also counts Canada and the government of New Brunswick among its full members.
“Quebec’s responsibility in a situation like this is to exert pressure,” she said, making the same appeal to the government of Justin Trudeau. One is not a full member of international organizations in order not to act. Our responsibility is to pass resolutions for international organizations to denounce. »
Possible pressures
The office of the Quebec Minister of International Relations, Nadine Girault, explained that Quebec has not ruled out the possibility of putting pressure on the OIF.
“We have meetings with the Francophonie in the coming weeks and days and that’s where we can see if we are able to exert pressure,” said press officer Léonie Bernard-Abel.
Ms. Girault could address the Ukrainian question during a ministerial meeting scheduled for the next few days by the authorities of the organization.
“If Ms. Girault has to intervene on the subject, it is clear that she will not remain silent, she will say that it does not make sense what is happening in Ukraine because that is what she thinks fundamentally,” she said.
According to Ms. Bernard-Abel, Quebec is not alone in wanting to denounce the invasion of Ukraine.
“We pretty much all agree that this is unacceptable,” she said.
According to the spokeswoman, Russia’s influence could put off some African member countries of the OIF from criticizing its military operation.
Ms. Bernard-Abel pointed out that during a recent vote at the United Nations on a resolution denouncing Russian intervention, half of the countries that abstained were African.
“There may be countries within La Francophonie that do not always share the same values as us,” she said. Quebec is a super important contributor to the OIF and it is certain that we will defend the interests of Ukraine, a state that had a democracy. »
awkward silence
The former secretary general of the Agence de la Francophonie, Jean-Louis Roy, lamented that the OIF had still not denounced the invasion of Ukraine.
“The rest of the international organizations have spoken in the same direction, including the Commonwealth, except for La Francophonie,” he said. There is still something a little annoying. »
According to Mr. Roy, in the absence of consensus, the OIF has the capacity to come out against the Russian invasion, if a majority of its members agree, even if it means specifying which countries do not share this opinion.
“Consensus in international politics is very rare,” he said.