If the principle Russian objective is to fight Islamic State, then they must first hit Islamic State. At the moment that is not the case, and there is a very strong tendency for it to strike rebels, the moderate opposition fighting (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad.

Le Drian

Categorized in : World

France has always said that Raqqa was a major objective. by Le Drian

France has always said that Raqqa was a major objective.

This is not just symbolic, we can see from what happened in Germa... by Le Drian

This is not just symbolic, we can see from what happened in Germany that the threat is everywhere.

I note that Daesh (Islamic State) is retreating and that Daesh is retreating significantly, since Daesh's occupation of Syria and Iraq, since the attempt to attack Baghdad in June 2014, I think Daesh has lost between 30 and 40 percent of its territory.

At the end of the year, our objective is to be back at a (troop) level close to what it was before the crisis.

We'll see how we can intensify our efforts in Iraq and Syria. by Le Drian

We'll see how we can intensify our efforts in Iraq and Syria.

We struck last night in Mosul on a Daesh telecommunications center, a propaganda center. What we can say today is that Daesh is retreating in Iraq.

It's very complicated. We will have to ensure the Iraqi and Kurdish forces are sufficiently battle-hardened to lead this battle.

Libya preoccupies me very much. by Le Drian

Libya preoccupies me very much.

Daesh (Islamic State) is in Libya because it can exploit the internal rivalries ... If we reunite these forces, Daesh will cease to exist.

It is an emergency. Tunisia is nearby, Egypt is nearby, Algeria is directly concerned, Niger, Chad ... these countries need to be able to organise a forum with the support of international organisations and the United Nations.

Maybe today this grand coalition with Russia is possible. by Le Drian

Maybe today this grand coalition with Russia is possible.

France cannot do everything, in the Sahel, in the Central African Republic, in the Levant and then secure its national territory.

This is firstly a political act. by Le Drian

This is firstly a political act.

Beyond that, how is this going to work? It may be by cooperating with French interventions in Syria, in Iraq, it may be in support of France in other operations.

Several countries have lined up to buy the two boats, i am rather optimistic about the fact we'll find a buyer in the coming weeks.

As soon as we have well identified targets and we can carry out the strikes that we need to carry out against an enemy who is the Islamic state and who is threatening us.

Talks between President Putin and President Francois Hollande have concluded yesterday. There is no further dispute on the matter.

Russia will be reimbursed euro for euro for the financial commitm... by Le Drian

Russia will be reimbursed euro for euro for the financial commitments taken for these ships.

I am convinced there will be other buyers. Already a number of countries have expressed an interest for these two ships.

It is essential that France accentuates its support for MINUSMA (the U.N. mission), to allow it to succeed in its noble mission of maintaining peace.