“We choose individuals on their deeds” in Syria, says Minister

Paris, 7 Might 2025

INDIA/PAKISTAN

Q. – India and Pakistan, two nuclear powers, bombed one another final night time. A number of dozen victims. India says it hit terrorist targets. Your response this morning?

THE MINISTER – We very strongly condemned the 22 April terrorist assault, which resulted in 26 civilians being brutally murdered in India. I used to be even in New York final week to facilitate the adoption by the United Nations Safety Council of a press release condemning the terrorist assault. We have been hoping that Pakistan may additionally very strongly denounce the assault. We perceive India’s want to guard itself towards the scourge of terrorism and we clearly name on India in addition to Pakistan to indicate restraint to keep away from escalation and clearly defend civilians.

SYRIA

Q. – In at the moment’s information, there’s additionally the primary go to to Europe by the brand new Syrian president, al-Qaeda’s former warlord, who’s having a gathering on the Elysée later. Marine Le Pen sees it as a provocation and irresponsible; Laurent Wauquiez, a grave error. Your response?

THE MINISTER – Marine Le Pen isn’t very effectively positioned to speak about Syria: she supported Bashar al-Assad, the bloody executioner of the Syrian individuals who, for 14 years of bloody repression, killed 500,000 or extra Syrians, used chemical weapons towards his personal individuals and developed devices of torture on an industrial scale.

Q. – In February, Emmanuel Macron stated, exactly, that he would invite him given that he gives ensures in regards to the nation’s safety. In March, 1,700 Alawites have been slaughtered. Final week, clashes between armed teams kind of near the federal government in place and militiamen from the Druze minority led to greater than 100 deaths. Are the Europeans being fooled?

THE MINISTER – What’s sure is that we aren’t giving them carte blanche and we choose individuals on their deeds. And with that in thoughts I personally went to Damascus, on 3 January this yr, the place I met Ahmed al-Sharaa, who turned Syria’s transitional president. We requested for the brand new interim authorities to handle points regarding chemical weapons dispersed in Syria. This was handled partially. We requested the authorities, on the time, to enter right into a dialogue with our loyal allies within the combat towards terrorism, the Kurds. A dialogue was entered into. We additionally requested them if the federal government may very well be a bit extra consultant. Right here too, we achieved our intention.

We’re getting him to return now exactly to ask him to go additional. To go additional on two factors specifically. The one you talked about, the combat towards impunity. (…) And the second factor is to indicate unfailing willpower to combat with us, as we’ve been doing for 10 years, towards Daesh’s terrorism. And we’re embarking on this demanding dialogue with the Syrian transitional authority as a result of if Syria collapsed at the moment, if it fragmented, it might imply rolling out the purple carpet for Daesh.

GAZA

Q. – On the scenario in Gaza, the pinnacle of European diplomacy stated yesterday that it’s an “untenable scenario”, and Emmanuel Macron had already stated so a month in the past throughout a go to not removed from the Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to let humanitarian support via – I remind you it’s been below a complete blockade since 2 March. Within the seize plan introduced by Israel, support could be entrusted to non-public firms working from Rafah. The scenario remains to be deadlocked, and do you additionally get the sensation that French and European diplomacy are completely powerless on this challenge specifically?

THE MINISTER – , if all of the international locations on the planet took the identical place as France, maybe we wouldn’t be the place we’re. What’s sure is that for 2 months and 5 days now, no humanitarian support has entered Gaza. And the scenario is certainly tragic. Gazans are ravenous, they’re thirsty. That’s why we’re persevering with to name tirelessly for an instantaneous ceasefire, for the quick, unimpeded entry of humanitarian support, and naturally for the discharge of all of the hostages by Hamas, which have to be disarmed. You point out the problem of personal companies to dispense humanitarian support. We’re against that, as a result of it’s a precept that might be opposite to the worldwide legislation on unconditional entry to humanitarian support for all those that want it. And there are lots of of them in Gaza at the moment. (…)

IRAN/CECILE KOHLER/JACQUES PARIS

Q. – One other essential challenge at the moment: Iran has been holding the French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, accused of espionage. Their family members say they’re now determined. What information do you’ve this morning ?

THE MINISTER – , after three years in Iranian jails the place persons are held in situations akin to torture, there are causes to be determined. And that’s why, three years after they have been taken hostage by the Iranian regime, we’ve determined to toughen our place. We proposed sanctions, which have been adopted, towards judges who’re liable for this state-hostages coverage, as a result of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris should not the primary of our compatriots to pay the value of that coverage. And I’ll even be lodging a grievance very quickly to the Worldwide Court docket of Justice over Iran’s violation of its consular safety obligations. What does that imply? It signifies that not solely are our two compatriots being held in shameful situations, sleeping on the bottom, disadvantaged of contact with their family members, with just a few exceptions; however moreover, Iran doesn’t acknowledge our proper – that of our diplomats, our consular officers on the bottom – to go to them frequently to make sure that they’re effectively and don’t want something. (…)

INDIA/PAKISTAN

Q. – I’ve one very very last thing to ask you. You talked about the decision for restraint between India and Pakistan. However issues are deteriorating from one minute to the subsequent. The Pakistani military has simply stated it’s shot down 5 Indian planes in Indian airspace, together with three French Rafales. That’s information which has simply reached us. Does the escalation concern you?

THE MINISTER – I’m very apprehensive in regards to the scenario. We’re speaking about two main army powers. That’s why we’re calling for restraint. I spoke to my Indian colleague final week. I’ll communicate to him within the subsequent few hours, at the moment or tomorrow. And the identical goes for my Pakistani colleague, to do my share of the collective work. I don’t suppose anybody – anybody – has an curiosity in a long-lasting confrontation between India and Pakistan. (…)./.