France won’t condition weapons sales to Egypt on human rights, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron also said he spoke "frankly" about human rights with his Egyptian counterpart.
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcomes his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Elysee presidential Palace on December 7, 2020 in Paris, for a meeting as part of al-Sisi's a three-day controversial state visit to France, with activists warning Paris not to turn a blind eye to Cairo's rights record with a red carpet welcome. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP) (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcomes his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Elysee Palace on Dec. 7, 2020, in Paris. - BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

French President Emmanuel Macron said his country will continue selling arms to Egypt despite calls to curb weapons sales in light of the Egyptian government’s poor human rights record. 

"I will not condition matters of defense and economic cooperation on these disagreements," Macron said during a joint remarks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

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