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world NEWSFriday 27 November 2015
Russia, France agree to tighten cooperation against IS
SYLVIE CORBET Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with his French counterpart Francois that “the Syrian president’s
V. ISACHENKOV Hollande during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. French President fate should be entirely in
Associated Press Francois Hollande is in Moscow on Thursday to push for a stronger coalition against Islamic State the hands of the Syrian
MOSCOW (AP) — The presi- militants in Syria, trying to unite France, the U.S. and Russia. people.”
dents of France and Russia Putin described Assad’s
agreed Thursday to tighten (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, pool) army as a “natural ally” in
cooperation in the fight the fight against IS — an
against the Islamic State Hollande and Putin agreed portant issue: To strike the information about that: essential force capable
group, although they re- on increasing intelligence terrorists only, Daesh and what can be struck, and of battling the extrem-
mained at odds over their sharing, intensifying their the jihadi groups only, and what must not be struck.” ist group on the ground.
approach toward Syrian airstrikes against IS in Syria not to strike the forces and But the two countries re- He added that Russia was
President Bashar Assad. and cooperating on se- the groups that are fighting main at odds in their ap- ready to cooperate with
IS has claimed responsibility lecting targets — two days against the terrorists,” Hol- proach toward Assad, with other groups ready to fight
for deadly attacks against after Turkey downed a Rus- lande said after the meet- Hollande saying the Syrian IS. Russia has been Assad’s
both of the countries’ citi- sian warplane near the Syr- ing, referring to IS by its Ara- head of state “does not staunchest ally, and has
zens in recent weeks: Nov. ian border. bic acronym. “And we are have his place in Syria’s come under criticism
13 shootings and suicide “We agreed on a very im- going to exchange some future,” and Putin stressing for targeting some rebel
bombings in Paris which groups who are fighting
killed 130 people, and the against both IS and Assad
Oct. 31 bombing of a Rus- in Syria’s multifaceted and
sian passenger jet over complex civil war.
Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula that Obama, after meeting with
claimed 224 lives. Hollande, had said Russian
French President Francois cooperation in the fight
Hollande has been on a against IS would be “enor-
diplomatic drive since the mously helpful.” The U.S.
Paris attacks to increase has also insisted that a po-
cooperation in tackling IS, litical transition in Syria must
which holds swathes of ter- lead to Assad’s departure.
ritory in both Syria and Iraq. “We view the U.S.-led coali-
He has met this week with tion with respect and stand
President Barak Obama, ready to cooperate with
German Chancellor An- it,” Putin said. “We believe
gela Merkel and Italian that we would better cre-
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi ate a single, united coali-
before flying to Moscow tion as it would be easier,
on Thursday for talks with simpler and more efficient
Russian President Vladimir to coordinate our work that
Putin. way.”q
Turkey-Russia spat over downed Russian warplane escalates
SUZAN FRASER man leaders, neither of Putin denounced the Turk- gives an impression that country that carried out
V. ISACHENKOV whom appeared willing to ish action as a “treacher- the Turkish leadership is the violation which should
Associated Press back down and search for ous stab in the back,” and deliberately driving Rus- question itself and take
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A a compromise. insisted that the plane was sian-Turkish relations into a measures to prevent it
tug-of-war over a Russian Turkey shot down the Rus- downed over Syrian terri- deadlock, and we regret from happening again,
warplane downed by a sian Su-24 military jet on tory in violation of interna- that.” not the country that was
Turkish fighter jet at the Tuesday, insisting it had tional law. But Turkish President Re- subjected to a violation.”
border with Syria escalat- violated its airspace de- “Until that moment, we cep Tayyip Erdogan was Erdogan said Turkey had
ed Thursday, with Moscow spite repeated warnings. haven’t heard a clear in no mood to apologize, not specifically targeted
drafting a slew of econom- The incident marked the apology from Turkey’s top and warned that Ankara Russia when it shot down
ic sanctions against Turkey first time in half a century political leadership, or an would act in the same the plane, saying it was
and the Turkish president that a NATO member shot offer to compensate for way in the event of anoth- “an automatic response”
defiantly declaring that down a Russian plane, rais- the damage or a promise er intrusion. in line with its rules of en-
his military will shoot down ing the threat of a military to punish the criminals,” he “Faced with the same vio- gagement.
any new intruder. confrontation between said at the Kremlin while lation today, Turkey would He spoke on a more con-
The spat reflected a clash the alliance and Moscow. receiving credentials from give the same response,” ciliatory note in separate
of ambitions of two strong- Russian President Vladimir several ambassadors. “It Erdogan said. “It’s the comments on France 24.q
