Assad welcomes French presidential candidate Fillon's views on Syria

[ucrdem]

Source: France24

2017-01-09

In an {English} interview with French media Sunday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he welcomed conservative French presidential candidate Franois Fillon's policies on terrorism.

"{Fillon's} priority to defy the terrorists and not meddling in the affairs of other countries are welcome," he told RTL {Radio Television Luxembourg} radio, LCP TV and France Info radio reporters.

"But we have to be cautious, because we have learned in this region during the last few years that many officials would say something and do the opposite," Assad said. "I wouldn't say that Mr Fillon would do this, I hope not but we have to wait and see, because there is no contact. But so far, what he says, if that will be implemented, that would be very good."

Polls predict that Fillon, who has said France needs a closer relationship with Russia, Assad's top ally, to resolve the Syrian civil war, is likely to win the second round of May's presidential election against far right leader Marine Le Pen.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20170109-assad-syria-aleppo-francois-fillon-truce-peace-talks-astana-rtl-france-info-lcp

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The interview was evidently conducted yesterday in Syria, in English, which Assad speaks fluently. The 14-min video accompanies the France24 article. Assad answers a question about Trump at the end, and says more or less the same thing as about Fillon, i.e., it depends on what he does.

[tenorly]

1. It's the Middle East, not the Meddle East.

We'd all be better off if everyone understood that. I suppose it's just too much to ask.