French Foreign Minister: Syria is a 'military trap' for Russia
Russian leadership has a good chance to get out of the military trap it has gotten itself into, expressed the Foreign Minister of France, Jean-Marc Ayrault, commenting on the further development of the situation in Syria after the publication of the report on the use of chemical weapons by the Russian-supported Assad regime, RFI reported.
According to the French Minister, the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in 2014 and 2015 is "not only illegal but morally unacceptable for those who support Damascus."
"The Russians should clarify their position and, at the same time, take this opportunity to reach a political solution. They claim that they want a political settlement and the resumption of negotiations in Geneva. I say, condemn the Syrian regime and stop the bombing!" the French Foreign Minister said.
According to Jean-Marc Ayrault, any “glimmers of hope” for a political settlement of the Syrian issue "quickly disappeared, because the Syrian regime has made a choice in favor of blind repression. That was made with the support of Russia and Iran." This has led, in the opinion of Jean-Marc Ayrault, to an increase in the chaos in Syria and the bombing by Russian aircraft "once more pushed the population toward the extremists."
Now, Ayrault said that the Russian leadership, which still cannot remain indifferent to international public opinion, "should take advantage of the situation" and condemn the Syrian regime and stop the bombing in its support.