In a speech to French diplomats, Mr. Hollande called for an “intensification of efforts for the political transition to take place quickly” and urged the Syrian opposition to form a “provisional, inclusive and representative” government. “France will recognize the provisional government of the new Syria as soon as it is formed,” he said. [Globe and Daily Mail]
THE PRESIDENT of France also warned Bashar al-Assad against the use of chemical weapons, joining other countries led by the U.S.
There is also a bit of a debate, as you’ll see in the video, of the causes of a Syrian helicopter crashing to earth. Free Syrian rebels are taking responsibility, but this has not been confirmed.
The former colonial ruler of Syria, France, is backing the rebels? Talk about your mixed messages.
France seems to have this sort of relationship with many of its old colonies. Let’s not forget who was leading the charge for intervention in Libya.
Cujo359,
The Former Colonial Ruler of Libya was Italy. Now I do remember Silvio being one of the EU leaders getting all hot and bothered about the possibility of auto-genocide being performed by the Gaddafi regime, so there is your direct link.
Libya, Algeria, what’s the diff?
Unfortunately, I can’t remember the names of the former colonies France sent military assets to over the years to restore order back in the latter part of the Twentieth Century. It was something of trend back then. Anyway, like the UK, they’ve had a fairly close relationship with many of their former colonies, no doubt at least partly due to French companies having assets or investments there.
I wonder what French President Hollande is expecting France to gain from this.
My guess would be “the usual”. Countries continue to have financial and social ties to their former colonies, even if the relationship ended badly. I don’t recall Syria having much in the way of oil, or other assets modern economies need. In fact, the place was in pretty bad straits even before we and Iraq lumbered them with a couple of million refugees.