00:01Concerning Ukraine, we have restated, as the G7 heads of state and government did on the 24th of February,
00:09our unwavering support to Ukraine in the defense of its territorial integrity,
00:15its right to exist, its freedom, its sovereignty, and its independence.
00:19And as Mr. Lavrov yet again calmly and be-facedly deployed the official line on French television,
00:27allow me to say a few words, sir, in response.
00:30First of all, no, Russia does not defend international law in Iran, nor in Ukraine, nor anywhere else.
00:38Mr. Lavrov, you cannot defend international law by starting a war of aggression.
00:44You cannot defend it by invading a neighboring country,
00:48nor by neglecting and refusing to recognize the sovereignty of a nation
00:55and using her force, which is not in any way controlled by international law.
01:02This is just a question of brutality.
01:04Secondly, no, Russia does not spare civilians.
01:10Bucha is a good example.
01:12Mariupol is another.
01:13also hospitals, schools, kindergartens have been bombed.
01:19The children from Ukraine who are taken over to Russia,
01:25brainwashed so that they can forget their own history.
01:28They too are civilians.
01:30The truth is there, and these are crimes of war which have been documented,
01:34and thirdly, no, Mr. Lavrov, Europe is not closing its eyes when it suits them.
01:40Our position is very clear wherever possible.
01:46France stands up and violates and speaks out against violations of humanitarian law and rights.
01:53in her Ukraine by Russia, in her Gaza by Israel, in Lebanon by her Israel as well,
02:03in Lebanon by her Hezbollah, and also by the Yezidi,
02:08also the mullahs in Iran and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
02:12Mr. Lavrov, if you're looking for proof of hypocrisy, do not look too far.
02:17They are just in your own backyard and in your midst.
02:22Finally, no, France does not in any way shackle journalists.
02:29We have 20,000 media outlets in France.
02:34If there were as many in Russia, it would be quite different.
02:37Novaya Gazeta, Echoes of Moscow or Deutsche Television,
02:42have been closed systematically or forced out.
02:46And any information which goes against the party line is banned.
02:51Journalists are subjected to violence, to threats, to intimidation.
02:57I think, for example, Anna Politovskaya and many other journalists who have been killed,
03:04and included Anthony Lagadun, who was actually targeted by a drone,
03:11a Russian drone, on the Ukrainian border.
03:14That is the fourth line.
03:16There are many other long lists and comments that I could make,
03:21but I think it was important for me to answer this in this way,
03:26because my Russian counterpart actually –
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