Madrid now can turn their attention to a La Liga-Champions League double as they get ready to host Bayern Munich in the semifinal return leg
football4 hours ago
Paris denied Swiss media reports Sunday that a long-planned meeting between the countries’ presidents in Paris had been called off due to French anger about Bern’s decision to purchase US, not French, fighter jets.
Two Swiss dailies, Le Matin Dimanche and SonntagsZeitung, reported that the French had pulled the plug on Swiss President and Economic Affairs Minister Guy Parmelin’s talks with President Emmanuel Macron in November.
Citing unnamed diplomatic sources, both newspapers said that France had opted to drop the meeting due to anger over how the Swiss had conducted their negotiations in the run-up to their June decision to buy 36 Lockheed Martin F35A jets.
According to the sources, Paris charged that the Swiss defence ministry had continued negotiations with other manufacturers, including with French Rafale maker Dassault, after the decision had already been reached to buy the US fighters.
Both the French government and Parmelin’s office at the economic affairs ministry denied that the meeting had been officially cancelled, stressing that the scheduling had not been completed.
“It was never cancelled and especially not due to the reasons mentioned,” the Elysee Palace in Paris said.
It explained that President Macron had agreed in principle at the start of the year to a meeting with his Swiss counterpart, and that the Swiss had proposed a date in November.
“We told them this summer that November would be complicated,” the Elysee said, adding that the final date for the meeting “has not been set yet.”
Parmelin’s office also insisted that since the scheduling had not been finalised, the change of plans was not considered “a cancellation of a confirmed appointment.”
It also highlighted that the visit had not been billed as a state visit, but simply as “a working visit by the president”.
The reports come as France is locked in a tense standoff with the United States and Australia over Canberra’s decision to break a deal for French submarines in favour of American nuclear-powered vessels.
Madrid now can turn their attention to a La Liga-Champions League double as they get ready to host Bayern Munich in the semifinal return leg
football4 hours ago
The Spaniard produced a flawless display and back-to-back birdies from the 16th saw him win by one shot from in-form Sebastian Söderberg
sports4 hours ago
The country's transition from winter to summer is typically marked by fluctuating weather conditions, expert explains
weather4 hours ago
The Japanese-owned galloper, who was looking to win a third colt's Classic, was beaten a close third in an absolute classic won by Mystik Dan
sports4 hours ago
The results for both class 10 and class 12 are expected to be declared on the same day
asia4 hours ago
The food safety regulator stated that the maximum limit is fixed differently for different food commodities based on their risk assessments
asia5 hours ago
The two customer happiness centres will operate on a 'partial closure basis' till project is completed by September end
uae5 hours ago
Siraj showed what he is capable of with the new ball against Gujarat as he dismissed Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill in successive overs
cricket5 hours ago