Boris Johnson a Liar with His Back Against the Wall, Says French Foreign Minister

The French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, gives his reaction to the appointment of Boris Johnson as Britain’s new foreign secretary. Speaking on Thursday, Ayrault says the current political climate and economic instability requires somebody reliable in the position

France Says Britain Must Extend Sanctions to Russian Oligarchs in London

Laurent Fabius, Foreign Minister of France

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: France's foreign minister Laurent Fabius tells William Hague oligarchs should suffer

Britain should target the assets of Russian oligarchs in London if more sanctions are adopted against Moscow over Ukraine, France’s foreign minister has said.

Laurent Fabius made the remarks as he said France might envisage suspending a €1.2billion (£1billion) contract to supply two warships to Russia.

The decision not to deliver two Mistral-class helicopter carriers, he said, could be part of a potential “third level” of sanctions if Russia did not respond to those imposed by the European Union and the US on Monday on a number of top Russian and Ukrainian figures.

But he insisted this could only take place “in the framework of general sanctions imposed by all countries”.

Mr Fabius went on to single out Britain, saying it must do “the equivalent with the assets of Russian oligarchs in London. Sanctions have to touch everyone”. » | Henry Samuel, in Paris and Bruno Waterfield in Brussels | Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Snowden: France Summons US Envoy Over Spying Claims

Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minster

BBC: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says claims that the US spied on millions of phone calls in France are "totally unacceptable".

Le Monde says the data, based on leaks from ex-intelligence analyst Edward Snowden, suggest the US NSA agency monitored businesses and officials as well as terrorism suspects.

The intercepts were apparently triggered by certain key words. (+ BBC video) » | Monday, October 21, 2013