Syria

French President François Hollande spoke this afternoon to United States President Barack Obama.

They agreed to work closely together to examine with the utmost care the appropriateness of the Russian proposal to place all the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons entirely under international control and ensure their actual and total destruction.

These steps are beginning today at the United Nations, with a view to a possible Security Council resolution.

The heads of state recalled their preference for a diplomatic solution but also stressed the importance of keeping all options open. The United States, the United Kingdom and France will combine their efforts in the coming days in order to achieve this./.