PARIS, September 30. /TASS/. Western powers are creating an enemy for themselves in the person of Russia by their actions regarding Syria and the problem of radical Islamism, former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who is a presidential contender from an opposition party, said in an interview with Le Figaro.

Fillon said the Syrian conflict is part of a global war against the true enemy of the global civilization - "Islamic totalitarianism".

"We are not doing enough in the military fight - first of all, we are conducting it poorly and not effectively, as we are giving up required alliances," he said.

"We fully sided with the camp of Sunnis, abandoning the alliance with Russia and Iran against Mujahiddin, and these are countries we should cooperate with in the fight against our enemy No. 1 - Islamic totalitarianism," Fillon said.

"In the person of Russia we are creat

ing an enemy, pushing it toward a mistake instead of helping it move in the direction of our goals and values," he said.

Fillon also said the West should have chosen a more pragmatic attitude toward Syria’s authorities, as the only available force now is the Syrian army.