David Martinon, France’s ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
David Martinon, France’s ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, was careful to answer when he was asked at a media conference on Tuesday morning about the claim that there is a genocide going on in South Africa.
Martinon said he was relying on the latest crime statistics “which show that there is apparently no bias”.
“There is generally no prejudice. There is no prejudice, even when it comes to farmers.”
However, the ambassador made it very clear that he was simply referring to the statistics provided.
“So that would be my answer. Don’t ask me to comment. But we watched the numbers,” Martinon said about his answer.
The ambassador also did not want to leave him out about the claim that pres. Emmanuel Macron for pres. wants to invite Cyril Ramaphosa for a state visit, now that Ramaphosa’s invitation to the G7 summit has been withdrawn.
“I would like to answer you on that, but it is ultimately in the hands of the two presidents,” the ambassador said about the allegations of a state visit.
On Tuesday, Martinon held a media conference in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, to talk specifically about France’s big Africa summit in Nairobi in May this year.
David Martinon, France’s ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
However, Martinon then had to face several questions in the question-and-answer session about this year’s G7 summit – the summit to which Ramaphosa’s invitation was withdrawn.
Among other things, the media wanted to know again “whether the ambassador does not find it geopolitically cowardly to withdraw South Africa’s invitation to the G7 summit when many European countries such as Spain have in fact stood up against international bullying of South Africa and other countries?”
In response, the ambassador pointed out that France and South Africa have had strong diplomatic relations for many years. “And it’s getting stronger and stronger.
“I can also confirm that the question of the withdrawal of South Africa’s invitation to the G20 has been raised several times between Sherpas and diplomatic advisers at a diplomatic level behind closed doors.
“France, also a founding member of the G20, is absolutely of the opinion that South Africa is a full member of the G20 and should be part of all its meetings,” said Martinon.
“As far as the G7 is concerned, I can only refer to what the president said about it, and that is that you cannot be ‘disinvited’ from a forum you do not belong to.”
The ambassador also repeated what Jean-Noël Barrot, the French foreign minister, said on the matter. Barrot said that France wanted to present a “streamlined G7” instead this year. Barrot also said France wanted to invite Kenya to the summit instead in preparation for the upcoming Africa Forward summit.
The summit will be hosted by France and Kenya in Nairobi on 11 and 12 May.
David Martinon, France’s ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
SA major partner of French – ambassador
“We consider South Africa to be a key partner,” Martinon said in response to a question about trade.
The ambassador pointed out that France is currently the largest foreign investor in South Africa. Martinon himself attended Ramaphosa’s so-called South African Investment Conference in Johannesburg where 30 French companies pledged R20.7 billion in investments to South Africa.
Martinon’s office said just earlier this week that these investments are a sign of lasting confidence in the local market.
“From energy to manufacturing, from water to consumer goods, French companies invest in various sectors and have trained almost 25,000 South African workers in the past two years. A partnership that has been built for the long term,” reads a recent entry by Martinon’s office in Johannesburg.