French business community welcomes Russian initiative

September 14

Representatives of the French government and business community have welcomed the initiative on anti-terrorist partnership between the authorities and business which Russia has made in the framework of its G8 presidency.

“Russia could hardly have made a more important and urgent proposal during its first G8 presidency,” Paul Dahan, deputy director of the department on strategic questions and security at the French Foreign Ministry, said in his speech at the presentation of a global forum for anti-terrorist partnership between the authorities and business at the Russian Embassy in Paris.

The forum will take place in Moscow next November. Dahan said the French experience in countering terrorism bears out that it can only be effective if the state enjoys support of civil society and relies on broad international cooperation. “In this context, the significance of the Russian initiative is difficult to overestimate,“ said the high-ranking French diplomat.

Also present at the meeting were representatives of major French companies and industry whose products directly relate to security.

Speaking on their behalf, Luigi Rebuffi of Thales pointed out that the business community in France is already actively cooperating with the government in the field of security. He said, three years ago Thales had initiated dialogue between the authorities and business in France, which was similar to what Russia is now suggesting on a global scale.

“We welcome the Russian initiative and are ready to share our experience,” Rebuffi said.

He added the business community is very interested in ensuring security, which is one of the necessary preconditions for successful business development, and is therefore ready to take an active part in forming an anti-terrorist partnership.