France has alleged that Russian claims to be fighting the Islamic State in Syria are merely for show and have not been backed up by any military operations.
In remarks on the sidelines of the UN general assembly, the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, also raised the possibility of creating a handful of “safe zones” within Syria where displaced people could be protected both from barrel bombs dropped by the Assad regime and from attacks from Isis and other extremist groups.
Fabius was speaking before the start of a summit on fighting Isis and violent extremism chaired by Barack Obama. The summit is being attended by Iraq and other Arab states, but not Russia or Iran – a reflection of the continuing and deep rifts over Syria and in particular over the fate of Bashar al-Assad as part of a possible peace deal.
On Monday, Vladimir Putin had insisted that Assad had to be supported as his forces were “valiantly” fighting Isis on the ground. Russia has portrayed its deployment of warplanes and troops to western Syria as a reflection of its commitment to confront Isis head on. On Tuesday Fabius sought to debunk both claims.
“The fight against Daesh [the Arabic acronym for Isis] is an absolute necessity but it must not be just a fight only through the media. It must be a real one,” he said. “And when I’m looking at who is really committed in the fight of Daesh … as far as Bashar al-Assad is concerned, it’s still recent and it’s still modest. So as far as our Russian partners are concerned, up to now they didn’t yet [do anything] against Daesh.”
By contrast, Fabius said: “We the French this week struck against a Daesh camp. We have to judge realities and not mass media.”
The US has also carried out airstrikes against Isis inside Syria, and is ramping up sanctions. As Obama opened the anti-Isis summit on Tuesday, the US government announced sanctions against 25 people and five groups connected to Isis in moves it said were aimed at hitting the activities of financial, logistical and recruiting operatives.
Opening the summit, Obama said: “This is not going to be turned around overnight ... There are going to be successes and there are going to be setbacks. This is not a conventional battle. This is a long-term campaign – not only against this particular network, but against its ideology.
“But, ultimately, I am optimistic. In Iraq and in Syria, Isil [another acronym for the Islamic State] is surrounded by communities, countries and a broad international coalition committed to its destruction,” the president said. “Like terrorists and tyrants throughout history, Isil will eventually lose because it has nothing to offer but suffering and death.”
Reiterating his position that Assad cannot stay, Obama said: “In Syria, defeating Isil requires a new leader and an inclusive government that unites the Syrian people in the fight against terrorist groups. This is going to be a complex process. And as I’ve said before, we are prepared to work with all countries, including Russia and Iran, to find a political mechanism in which it is possible to begin a transition process.”
Fabius also argued it made no moral or practical sense for Assad to remain if the goal was to rebuild a new, free and united Syria.
“How can you imagine that the Syrian refugees – 80% of whom fled Syria because they were under threat from Assad – how can you imagine that they go back to Syria if we tell them that the future of Syria is Bashar al-Assad?” Fabius asked. He said a political transition mechanism had to be negotiated, but was not specific about timing.
Meanwhile, he said that France had revived the idea of the creation and enforcement of “safe zones” inside Syria where civilians would be protected both from the regime and Isis.
“It could be an idea to have within Syria one or two or three … safe zones, security zones, in order that these zones will be able to welcome Syrian people without forcing them to go out of the country. We are working on that,” Fabius said, again without offering details on how such zones could be achieved.
The Russians continue to promote a separate negotiating effort, seeking to recruit countries to its view of Syria and the need for Assad to remain. The foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, is chairing a ministerial meeting to that end on Wednesday. French officials said that Fabius would attend.
In remarks on the sidelines of the UN general assembly, the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, also raised the possibility of creating a handful of “safe zones” within Syria where displaced people could be protected both from barrel bombs dropped by the Assad regime and from attacks from Isis and other extremist groups.
Fabius was speaking before the start of a summit on fighting Isis and violent extremism chaired by Barack Obama. The summit is being attended by Iraq and other Arab states, but not Russia or Iran – a reflection of the continuing and deep rifts over Syria and in particular over the fate of Bashar al-Assad as part of a possible peace deal.
On Monday, Vladimir Putin had insisted that Assad had to be supported as his forces were “valiantly” fighting Isis on the ground. Russia has portrayed its deployment of warplanes and troops to western Syria as a reflection of its commitment to confront Isis head on. On Tuesday Fabius sought to debunk both claims.
“The fight against Daesh [the Arabic acronym for Isis] is an absolute necessity but it must not be just a fight only through the media. It must be a real one,” he said. “And when I’m looking at who is really committed in the fight of Daesh … as far as Bashar al-Assad is concerned, it’s still recent and it’s still modest. So as far as our Russian partners are concerned, up to now they didn’t yet [do anything] against Daesh.”
By contrast, Fabius said: “We the French this week struck against a Daesh camp. We have to judge realities and not mass media.”
The US has also carried out airstrikes against Isis inside Syria, and is ramping up sanctions. As Obama opened the anti-Isis summit on Tuesday, the US government announced sanctions against 25 people and five groups connected to Isis in moves it said were aimed at hitting the activities of financial, logistical and recruiting operatives.
Opening the summit, Obama said: “This is not going to be turned around overnight ... There are going to be successes and there are going to be setbacks. This is not a conventional battle. This is a long-term campaign – not only against this particular network, but against its ideology.
“But, ultimately, I am optimistic. In Iraq and in Syria, Isil [another acronym for the Islamic State] is surrounded by communities, countries and a broad international coalition committed to its destruction,” the president said. “Like terrorists and tyrants throughout history, Isil will eventually lose because it has nothing to offer but suffering and death.”
Reiterating his position that Assad cannot stay, Obama said: “In Syria, defeating Isil requires a new leader and an inclusive government that unites the Syrian people in the fight against terrorist groups. This is going to be a complex process. And as I’ve said before, we are prepared to work with all countries, including Russia and Iran, to find a political mechanism in which it is possible to begin a transition process.”
Fabius also argued it made no moral or practical sense for Assad to remain if the goal was to rebuild a new, free and united Syria.
“How can you imagine that the Syrian refugees – 80% of whom fled Syria because they were under threat from Assad – how can you imagine that they go back to Syria if we tell them that the future of Syria is Bashar al-Assad?” Fabius asked. He said a political transition mechanism had to be negotiated, but was not specific about timing.
Meanwhile, he said that France had revived the idea of the creation and enforcement of “safe zones” inside Syria where civilians would be protected both from the regime and Isis.
“It could be an idea to have within Syria one or two or three … safe zones, security zones, in order that these zones will be able to welcome Syrian people without forcing them to go out of the country. We are working on that,” Fabius said, again without offering details on how such zones could be achieved.
The Russians continue to promote a separate negotiating effort, seeking to recruit countries to its view of Syria and the need for Assad to remain. The foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, is chairing a ministerial meeting to that end on Wednesday. French officials said that Fabius would attend.
No comments:
Post a Comment