Assad says France sponsors terrorism, cannot talk about peace

 

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with RIA Novosti and Sputnik in this handout picture provided by SANA on April 21, 2017, Syria. SANA/Handout via REUTERS

 

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al Assad attacked France on Tuesday, accusing it of supporting bloodshed in his country making it unfit to talk about a peace settlement.

 

"France spearheaded support for terrorism and their hands are soaked in Syrian blood from the first days and we do not see they have changed their stance fundamentally," Assad was quoted in state media as telling reporters after meeting a Russian delegation on Monday.

 

"Those who support terrorism  have no right to talk about peace,” he added.

 

France on Friday accused Syria of doing nothing to reach a peace agreement after almost seven years of war and said it was committing mass crimes in the Eastern Ghouta region where 400,000 people are besieged by government forces.

 

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday France would push for peace talks involving all parties in the six-year-old Syrian conflict, including President Bashar al-Assad, promising “initiatives” early next year.

 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was more blunt, quoted by Le Figaro.

 

Mr Assad does not seem to be in a position to take a political stance as long as he is dependent on Russia and Iran," Le Drian said.

 

"When you have spent your days massacring your people, you should be generally a little more discrete,” Le Drian was quoted as saying during a trip to Washington.

 

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Richard Lough in Paris)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-19

why stop at france.......all the western countries + turkey & saudi have blood on their hands

49 minutes ago, punchjudy said:

why stop at france.......all the western countries + turkey & saudi have blood on their hands

 

France took control of Syria when the British and French chopped up the old Ottoman Empire after WW1.

 

Macron seems to have some colonial power delusions as to France's influence and importance in the World. In many respects the dubious Assad is correct. And Assad is still the elected leader of Syria. 

 

Sadly these countries and their governments are mere pawns in the games being played by the Kings, Queens, Knights and Bishops on the chess board of the world. 

 

 

Is this war criminal still breathing air?  Why?

Geezer