Does a long absence from the French
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 3:11 am
Tunisia has the status of Partner for Local Democracy of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. This project is part of the South-Med Partnership program adopted by the Congress in 2017, the objective of which is to support ongoing territorial reforms and strengthen decentralized governance in neighboring beneficiary countries. It contributes to the implementation of the local and regional aspects of the Council of Europe’s policy towards neighboring regions, in particular the Neighborhood Partnerships with Morocco and with Tunisia (2018-2021). The activities organized within this framework are financially supported by Liechtenstein, Norway and Spain.After Afghanistan, Europe wonders if France was right about America
Sep 4, 2021
opportunity for the French to display banners, drink champagne and celebrate the founding myths of the republic. On July 14, however, when the French Ambassador to Kabul, David Martinon, recorded a message to job function email database his fellow citizens, gravity crushed the party. “My dear compatriots“, he began, “the situation in Afghanistan is extremely worrying”. The French embassy, he said, has completed its evacuation of Afghan employees. French nationals were ordered to leave on a special flight three days later. After that, given the “foreseeable development” of events in Afghanistan, he declared – a month before the fall of Kabul – France could no longer guarantee them a safe exit.
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When the French began withdrawing Afghan personnel and their families in May, even friends accused them of defeatism and precipitating the regime’s downfall. Their August evacuation effort (of 2,834 people, on 42 flights) was flawed and left a few vulnerable Afghans behind. As the allies scrambled to get their Afghan workers out of Kabul, the French found themselves as dependent as anyone on American security. Yet there was a quiet satisfaction in Paris. Their plans showed “impressive foresight,” said Lord Ricketts, former British ambassador to France.
Sep 4, 2021
opportunity for the French to display banners, drink champagne and celebrate the founding myths of the republic. On July 14, however, when the French Ambassador to Kabul, David Martinon, recorded a message to job function email database his fellow citizens, gravity crushed the party. “My dear compatriots“, he began, “the situation in Afghanistan is extremely worrying”. The French embassy, he said, has completed its evacuation of Afghan employees. French nationals were ordered to leave on a special flight three days later. After that, given the “foreseeable development” of events in Afghanistan, he declared – a month before the fall of Kabul – France could no longer guarantee them a safe exit.
Listen to this story
Enjoy more audio and podcasts on ios Where Android.
When the French began withdrawing Afghan personnel and their families in May, even friends accused them of defeatism and precipitating the regime’s downfall. Their August evacuation effort (of 2,834 people, on 42 flights) was flawed and left a few vulnerable Afghans behind. As the allies scrambled to get their Afghan workers out of Kabul, the French found themselves as dependent as anyone on American security. Yet there was a quiet satisfaction in Paris. Their plans showed “impressive foresight,” said Lord Ricketts, former British ambassador to France.