French Ex-PM to Fabius: Russia Didn't Change Its Stance on Syria, Paris Did

Unlike Paris, Russia is pursuing a consistent foreign policy in Syria, former prime minister of France, François Fillon, said, referring to a comment made earlier by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who asserted that Moscow recently changed its strategy in Syria.

"Laurent Fabius had better keep quiet," Fillon told Sud Radio. He "is trying to explain that he was right when he was wrong."

France decided to intensify its counterterrorism campaign in Syria following a series of terrorist acts carried out in Paris on November 13. ISIL took responsibility for the assaults, which left 129 people dead. French President Francois Hollande described them as "an act of war."

"For two days I've listened to the French government saying that Paris terrorist acts changed Russia," Fillon noted. "It is not the Russians who changed their stance [on Syria], it's us," he said, adding that Moscow was consistent in its policies from day one.

The former French prime minister also asserted that Russia never insisted that Bashar al-Assad had to remain the Syrian leader.

"The Russians have never been unconditional supporters of Assad. They consider Islamic totalitarianism to be the immediate threat and therefore believe that all those fighting against it should unite," Fillon added.

Earlier in November, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that Moscow always maintained that the Syrians would decide the future of their country and choose the person to lead it.

Islamic State

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