Talks between President Putin and President Francois Hollande have concluded yesterday. There is no further dispute on the matter. Le Drian More Quotes by Le Drian More Quotes From Le Drian France has always said that Raqqa was a major objective. Le Drian world This is not just symbolic, we can see from what happened in Germany that the threat is everywhere. Le Drian industrials 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. Le Drian world At the end of the year, our objective is to be back at a (troop) level close to what it was before the crisis. Le Drian world We'll see how we can intensify our efforts in Iraq and Syria. Le Drian energy 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. Le Drian world It's very complicated. We will have to ensure the Iraqi and Kurdish forces are sufficiently battle-hardened to lead this battle. Le Drian world 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 world Libya preoccupies me very much. Le Drian industrials Daesh (Islamic State) is in Libya because it can exploit the internal rivalries ... If we reunite these forces, Daesh will cease to exist. Le Drian industrials 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. Le Drian industrials Maybe today this grand coalition with Russia is possible. Le Drian top-news France cannot do everything, in the Sahel, in the Central African Republic, in the Levant and then secure its national territory. Le Drian industrials This is firstly a political act. Le Drian energy 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. Le Drian energy 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. Le Drian industrials 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. Le Drian world Russia will be reimbursed euro for euro for the financial commitments taken for these ships. Le Drian world I am convinced there will be other buyers. Already a number of countries have expressed an interest for these two ships. Le Drian world 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. Le Drian world
