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Russia has opportunities for resolving Syrian conflict – France’s former PM

“President Francois Hollande should take the risk and go to Moscow to discuss Syria with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin face to face,” Fillion said

PARIS, August 11 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia has opportunities for resolving the Syrian conflict, France’s former prime minister Francois Fillon told the French regional daily West France, to be published on Saturday.

On Friday the newspaper placed extracts from the interview on its website. Fillion led the Cabinet during the Nicolas Sarkozy presidency.

“The solution is in Russia. President Francois Hollande should take the risk and go to Moscow to discuss Syria with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin face to face. I do know that it will not be easy,” Fillion said, adding that in his opinion Russia had the clue to the solution of the conflict.

He argues that “if Russia gives up support for Bashar Assad, his regime will fall at once.”

“Should Hollande take such a move, I shall support him irrespective of whether his mission will succeed or fail,” Fillion said.

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