All news

French MP says Russia’s actions allowed to turn things around in Syria

A French National Assembly member says Russia and France have similar goals concerning fighting terrorism in Syria
 French National Assembly member and ex-Transport Minister Thierry Mariani  EPA/GUIDO MONTANI
French National Assembly member and ex-Transport Minister Thierry Mariani
© EPA/GUIDO MONTANI

MOSCOW, July 28. /TASS/. Russia’s decisive actions in Syria have allowed to turn things around in Syria, French National Assembly member and ex-Transport Minister Thierry Mariani said on Thursday.

"Let me stress that we are in the same boat when it comes to fighting against terrorism," Mariani, who also serves as co-chair of "French-Russian Dialogue" association, said at the meeting with Russian State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin. "And let me thank you once again on behalf of myself and my colleagues for your actions in Syria because I think that this active and decisive interference allowed to turn things around there," he added.

The French delegation of 11 lawmakers and senators led by Mariani are scheduled to visit Crimea from July 29 to 31 to take part in celebrating Russian Navy Day in Sevastopol. Meetings with the Head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, the State Council Chairman, Vladimir Konstantinov, the Governor of Sevastopol, Sergey Menyailo and possibly with Crimea’s Prosecutor General, Natalya Poklonskaya are on the agenda.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra (terrorist organizations banned in Russia) on 30 September 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. On 14 March 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start, from March 15, withdrawing the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ group from Syria. Putin said the tasks set before the military "have been fulfilled on the whole." Two Russian military facilities - at the Hmeymim aerodrome and in Tartus - are still operational in Syria. The Russian military continue to take an active part in the fight against terrorist groups. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said strikes on terrorists will continue to be delivered.

Tags