You're reading: Ambassador: France supports Ukraine, but will not hide truth

Isabelle Dumont, France’s relatively new ambassador to Ukraine, was troubled by two things during a Feb. 3 interview with the Kyiv Post: a bad cold and the resignation of Ukraine’s Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius that morning.

The cold will go away soon enough, but the Abromavicius affair may not.

She and nine other ambassadors stationed in Ukraine found the circumstances of Abromavicius’ departure disturbing enough to issue a public statement in support of the economy minister, who complained that Ihor Kononenko, a key ally of President Petro Poroshenko, was trying to install his own allies in key positions to obstruct systemic reforms to end corruption.

‘A bad sign’

“History will tell whether it’s a setback or not. We clearly cannot say it’s a step forward,” Dumont said. “As of the first assessment, it’s pretty bad news… it seems to be a bad sign.”

Abromavicius was regarded as one of Ukraine’s most effective speakers at international business conferences, and among the most successful in combating corruption, along with Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko.

Now Dumont has a lot of questions, including who will take the lead from Ukraine’s side in planning an April investment conference in France, an event postponed by the November terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Before a recent spate of resignations in Ukraine’s government, Dumont said that it seemed that Ukraine was making progress in enacting overdue reforms and in fighting corruption on several fronts.

Progress made

“The assessment is not so dark,” Dumont said. “That’s why we are worried, actually.” She noted progress in cleaning up the banking system, enacting judicial reform, starting anti-corruption agencies and in moving towards decentralization of government – an area where France has lent expertise – as areas of achievement.

“We do acknowledge the positive reforms that have been made,” Dumont said.

Endemic corruption still remains the problem.

160 firms, $1.6 billion

Corruption is felt by the 160 French companies doing business in Ukraine, part of the $1.6 billion in cumulative foreign direct investment credited to France since Ukrainian statehood in 1991.

She said French businesses are generally happy to be in Ukraine, a nation regarded as having great potential and human resources. But the “less positive points again go back to corruption,” particularly the lack of transparency and legal pressure against businesses that don’t participate in corrupt schemes, she said.

Dumont knows of “many precise specific examples of French companies” that have spent time and money in courts defending themselves against dubious charges. “The time devoted to that is time that is not devoted to business,” she said.

“My goal is to have French companies invest in Ukraine. I want French companies to come here and I want business developing both ways,” Dumont said. “I also have to be fair. If a company is asking me about the business climate in Ukraine, I cannot hide what I am hearing from companies that have been here several years.”

Dumont said that while foreigners like her can attempt to persuade Ukraine’s leaders to strengthen rule of law, the main leverage Western governments have is to condition benefits, such as low-interest loans and visa-free travel, on Ukraine making specific improvements.

In the end, however, she said “it’s up to the population to decide their future.”

France has played a very active role in Ukrainian affairs, particularly in the two years since the EuroMaidan Revolution that overthrew President Viktor Yanukovych, Russia’s subsequent annexation of Crimea, and war in the eastern Donbas.

She said France clearly blames Russia for the aggression and will never compromise on questions of international law. She also does not expect France to support lifting any economic sanctions against Russia until the Minsk peace agreements are fully implemented, which would mean an end to the war by forcing the Kremlin to cut off support for its proxies and to return control of the eastern border to Ukraine.

France has a presidential election in 2017. The prospect of the election of Marine Le Pen, an apologist for Russian President Vladimir Putin, scares many, much the same way as the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency in America does. While the ambassador didn’t want to talk about domestic French politics, she said France will always consider Crimea as part of Ukraine.

“France is always going to support Ukraine,” she said. “It’s very important to support Ukrainian sovereignty.”

French President Francois Hollande has played a key role in the peace talks, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. While many Ukraine supporters want the West to help arm Ukraine, Dumont does not believe such military aid will help end the conflict.

Dumont, 40, took over her duties in September, replacing Alain Remy. She is a veteran of France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, having worked in Paris most recently, but also for several years in Turkey. This is her first ambassadorship. She speaks French, English, Turkish and Spanish.

Aside from the heavy issues of war and corruption, Dumont sees promotion of French culture and cuisine as an important part of her duties.

A French cinema festival recently wrapped up and one of the next biggest events is April 2-13 with French Spring, a celebration of French culture that is highly popular in Kyiv. Dumont is also sounding out the possibilities of another festival to promote French cuisine, which also favored, as is the French language, which is taught at many places, including the French Cultural Center in Kyiv.

France at a glance

Total area: 643,801 square kilometers

Population: 66.5 million

Government type: Republic

Head of state: President Francois Hollande (since May 15, 2012)

Head of government: Prime Minister Manuel Valls (since April 1, 2014)

GDP: $2.591 trillion (2014)

GDP per capita: $40,500 (2014)

Main sectors of the economy: machinery, chemicals, cars, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food processing, tourism

Ukraine-France relations:

Trade: 1.2 billion (2014)

Exports from Ukraine to France: Food, oil and seeds, herbal products, textile products, engineering products

Exports from France to Ukraine: Cars, food, logistics, education, culture, electrical equipment, cosmetics and chemicals

French foreign direct investment in Ukraine: $1.5 billion

Main business partners: Danone, Renault, Auchan, Credit Agricole, FM logistic, ALD Automotive, EDF, Limagrain, GE-FCO, Peugeot Citroen Ukraine, CMA CGM, LAFARGE, Louis Dreifus Ukraine, BNP Paribas