Macron meets with Putin, Syrian rebel leader, speaks of ‘red line’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – French President Emmanuel Macron met with Syrian opposition leader Riad Hijab of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) in Paris where Macron reaffirmed his country’s support for the rebels, a day after the new French leader said chemical weapons in Syria would be a “red line” after meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The HNC announced in a statement that Hijab expressed his gratitude for France's support of the Syrian revolution and the rights of the Syrians, adding that the leader discussed the Syrian “regime’s preparation for an escalatory military campaign.”

The HNC leader warned that “the regime and its allies are preparing for in different parts of Syria especially beside the Syrian-Iraqi borders, in the southern region, and in the countrysides of Aleppo and Hama...”

He also on Tuesday called for an active European role in the diplomatic process.

“Dr. Hijab has expressed as well the necessity to find a new strategy for the negotiating process that gives the Syrian people a glimmer of hope and alleviates their daily suffering,” read an HNC statement.

Macron’s office stated that it backs the UN-mediated Geneva peace talks to end the conflicts in Syria.

"The President of the Republic recalled his personal commitment to the Syrian situation and his support for the Syrian opposition for a political transition in Syria," read an Elysee Palace statement.

The unannounced meeting came just a day after Macron had met with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, a key backer of the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, to discuss among other things, the continuing conflicts in Syria.

In a news conference between Macron and Putin held on Monday, Macron said he wanted France to “strengthen its partnership with Russia” in the fight against ISIS. Macron also favors a “democratic transition that would preserve the Syrian state.”

Macron added that his priority in Syria was to “eradicate Islamist militants.” However, the use of chemical weapons would be a “red line” that would draw “immediate response” from France.

Putin agreed that uniting against terrorism would achieve “positive results” and that it was impossible to “combat the terrorist threat by destroying statehood.”

France, which is one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, encouraged the 2011 uprisings and has supported pre-emptive UN sanctions against the Assad regime for what Paris believes was the government’s role in the Khan Sheikhoun chemical attack on April 4. 

Russia vetoed the UN sanctions citing the need for an independent investigation.

“A Security Council resolution to impose UN sanctions on Mr al-Assad must be signed as soon as possible,” former French President Francois Hollande said in April. “An inquiry into Tuesday’s attack must also be launched so that the appropriate sanctions may be imposed.”

France belongs to the 69-member global coalition against ISIS, and its country’s military has carried out air operations in Iraq since September 2014 and in Syria since September 2015.

Russia is not a member of the global coalition, but has suffered ISIS-claimed attacks, and has struck targets in Syria since September 2015, where it says it is fighting the group.