Hollande, Putin Meet to Discuss Broad Coalition against ‘Common Enemy’

World | November 26, 2015, Thursday // 21:53|  views

French President Francois Hollande (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meet at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 26 November 2015. to discuss coordination in their common struggle against the Islamic State group. Photo EPA/BGNES

This month’s deadly terror attacks in Paris and the downing of the Russian passenger plane in Egypt highlight the need for Moscow and Paris to join forces in the fight against terrorism, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

"You're paying big attention and putting a lot of efforts into the creation of a broad anti-terrorist coalition," TASS quoted Putin as saying at the start of his meeting with his French counterpart Francois Hollande Hollande in the Kremlin on Thursday.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the bringing down a Russian Airbus A321 in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on October 31 and the multiple deadly attacks in Paris on November 13.

"What's more, we think this coalition is absolutely necessary and that's where our positions are the same," Putin said.

Hollande also said that a broad and strong counter-terrorism coalition should be formed to defeat a 'common enemy'.

“I have come here so that we could find a solution and move together on this path, effectively fighting the common enemy and searching for political solutions to settle the situation in Syria," the French President said at the start of his talks with Putin, according to TASS.

Hollande’s talks in Moscow are the latest push in his diplomatic offensive aimed at forming a grand coalition against the organisation of Islamic militants who control parts of Iraq and Syria.

Hollande held talks in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama on combating the Islamic State group earlier this week. He also held separate talks in Paris this week with the leaders of Germany, Britain and Italy.

In Washington, Obama and Hollande pledged to intensify airstrikes against the Islamic State group and increase the sharing of intelligence information.

The talks between Hollande and Putin take place against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions between Russia and Turkey over Tuesday’s downing of a Russian warplane by a Turkish Air Force jet.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: Russia, France, U.S., turkey, Islamic state, grand coalition, Putin, Hollande

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search