French President Emanuel Macron, who held extensive talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, announced a decision by Paris and Moscow to ‘establish a coordinated mechanism that will seek to end the bloody conflict in Syria.’ “We together with President Putin have decided to bring a mechanism of coordination for interaction between the small group and the Astana process. For me it is a big step forward for the Syrian issue. We may have different views, but we have one aspiration, to retain Syrian sovereignty and the territorial integrity of this country,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.
The French leader further underscored a change since 2017 of French political forces that have altered Paris’ position on Syria and its aspired future. “Starting in 2017 French political forces changed and we want to find an inclusive political solution which would allow the all Syrian people to develop a new constitution and to choose their own government,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.
With regard to the nuclear agreement with Iran, President Macron emphasized Europe’s resolve in preserving the 2015 deal; yet indicated an ongoing attempt to negotiate with the Islamic Republic additional issues that Paris wants to see included, including Tehran’s ballistic missile program and its aggressive policies across the Middle East. “We will defend the agreement signed in 2015, we will continue the negotiations with Iran as to the additional issues to be included, and we fully agree that we need to keep the framework of 2015 efficient and effective in order to move forward,” French President Macron said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, on his part, declared Moscow’s appreciation of Europe’s efforts to preserve the nuclear agreement with Iran, despite the decision by the United States to withdraw from the agreement. The Russian leader further took the opportunity to warn of lamentable consequences if the nuclear deal would collapse. “Iran fully delivered on its obligations under the deal and therefore we have to question what is the basis for the dismantling of this deal, and this arrangement is. The consequences I believe can be very lamentable, but we welcome the sentiment of France and the whole of Europe who aim to retain this deal,” Putin said.