Syria

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Q. – In Syria, you said at the end of the year: “the end is approaching for Bashar al-Assad”. Are you still as optimistic?

THE MINISTER – Bashar al-Assad is the murderer of his people. There have now been nearly 70,000 deaths! No solution is possible with him. An alternative has emerged thanks to the coalition of the Syrian opposition, which France was the first to recognize. There’s talk of possible contact between the coalition and the Russians, and dialogue with certain elements of the regime. Given the human catastrophe this conflict represents, we want things to speed up.

Q. – How can the deadlock be overcome?

THE MINISTER – I talked about this at length on the telephone to John Kerry, my American counterpart, on Monday. On the one hand there’s humanitarian action, where we’re playing an active role alongside the Syrian National Coalition. There’s also political action, to ensure that the people who still support Bashar al-Assad understand he means chaos. There’s also the military side, given that the Europeans have so far decided on an arms embargo, a decision we must soon re-examine. Our priority, in addition to supporting the people, is to seek ways and means to bring about a political solution that ends the suffering of the Syrians and the neighbouring people. It’s crucial.

Q. – That’s what has been under way for several months…

THE MINISTER – Yes, but unfortunately it requires time. We’re seeing a few positive moves, but they’re still insufficient.

Q. – Could supplying weapons to the opposition be envisaged?

THE MINISTER – The Iranians and Russians are supplying weaponry. The other side too, probably. But those weapons aren’t enough to defend against Bashar’s air attacks. One of the serious difficulties is that any weapons supplied must be stopped from getting into the hands of extremists, as may have been the case in Libya. (…)./.