Hollande to Putin: Russia to strike ‘only’ at ISIS

France’s President Francois Hollande said on Friday he had told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin he must strike at “Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and only Daesh” during Russian military action in Syria.

Hollande was speaking after meeting Putin on Friday ahead of talks on the future of Ukraine, where the two men were joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

“What I told President Putin was that the strikes should concern Daesh and only Daesh. On that basis we have to hold everyone to their responsibilities,” Hollande said after the meetings in Paris.

He said no link was made during the four-way talks between the situation in Ukraine and the one Syria.

Hollande and Putin had an in-depth discussion on Syria on Friday in which they “tried to narrow down differences on political transition,” an aide to Hollande said after the two met in Paris.

The aide did not say if they had succeeded in any way in the 1h15-minute conversation, which took place ahead of a meeting the two men will have with the leaders of Germany and Ukraine aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis.

They discussed the three conditions required by France for cooperation with Russia in Syria, the aide said. Those are: attack ISIS and Al-Qaeda and no other targets, ensure the safety of civilians, and put in place a political transition that will see the departure of Russia's ally Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

Both Hollande and Putin looked stern and frosty-faced as the French leader welcomed his Russian counterpart in the yard of the Elysee palace, exchanging a couple of terse handshakes in front of photographers and cameramen...
 alarabiya.net
2/10/15
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Related:

• Russia indirectly involved in Syrian conflict by supporting Assad (Hollande)

• Turkey accuses Russia of hitting Syria rebels to bolster regime

• ‘French strikes’ on IS camp in Syria killed 30, NGO says

• Obama: Russia strikes 'strengthen IS'...

US President Barack Obama has said the Russian bombing campaign in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad is driving moderate opposition underground and "only strengthening" Islamic State.

Mr Obama said he rejected the Russian assertion that all armed opponents of the "brutal" Mr Assad were terrorists.

Moscow insists its air strikes - which began on Wednesday - are targeting IS.

But the Syrian opposition and others have suggested non-IS rebels are bearing the brunt of Russian attacks.

Russia said its aircraft had hit IS command centres, arms depots and military vehicles. Targets included the IS stronghold of Raqqa, but also Aleppo, Hama and Idlib - provinces with little IS presence.........BBC
3/10/15