France must join Syria in terror fight: Opposition MPs

Opposition lawmakers in France have called on the government to change its foreign policy toward Syria in order to contribute to the fight against terrorism, Press TV reports.

The remarks were made by a number of French parliamentarians who recently met with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

“We have to renew our diplomatic ties with the government in Damascus, even if we don’t agree with them on everything. I met with Bashar al-Assad in February because I think we need to cooperate with him in our fight against terrorism,” Jacques Myard (shown below) from France’s Republican Party told Press TV correspondent.

Jean Frederic Poisson from the French Christian Democratic Party also said Paris’ insistence for the departure of Assad as a pre-condition to its engagement in the campaign against militants operating in the region was “wrong.”

“France has to open a diplomatic mission in Damascus. When I met Bashar al-Assad some weeks ago, I asked him if he would agree to host a French diplomatic office in Syria, he said he has no objections at all,” said Poisson.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Friday hinted at France’s possible working with the Syrian army in the fight against Daesh Takfiris. He, however, later altered his remarks, saying that he meant that Syrian government troops could take part in the fight against Daesh "within the context of a political transition -- and only in this context". 

Syria has been gripped with a foreign-backed militancy since March 2011 which has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people.

France, which has been among a number of countries who support militant groups fighting against Damascus, has intensified its attacks – as part of a US-led coalition – against the alleged positions of Daesh in Syria and Iraq following a number of deadly attacks against the French capital, Paris, on November 13, which left some 130 people dead. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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