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Conflict in Syria

Lavrov slams Macron’s remark on need to stay in Syria as colonial stance

Moscow will ask Paris to clarify this position, the Russian top diplomat said

French President Emmanuel Macron AP Photo/Jean Francois Badias

French President Emmanuel Macron

© AP Photo/Jean Francois Badias

MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. The call of French President Emmanuel Macron not to withdraw forces from Syria even after the war on terror is over is reminiscent of a colonial stance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Beijing.

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Putin, Macron discuss situation in Syria — Kremlin

"I heard that most recently French President Macron called on the United States not to pull out forces from Syria even when the last terrorist is killed or expelled from the country’s territory," Lavrov said in a commentary published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website.

The French leader said it was necessary to remain in the country "nearly on a permanent basis and to build a new Syria," Lavrov said, calling this a "colonial stance." Russia will ask France to clarify this position, he noted.

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Sergey Lavrov Syrian conflict Emmanuel Macron

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