Putin-Macron meeting results are, even if not breakthrough, certainly step forward in Russian-French cooperation - Duma deputy Slutsky
MOSCOW. May 30 (Interfax) - Members of the Russian State Duma see the May 29 meeting between the presidents of Russia and France as crucial to the further development of cooperation between the two countries.
"The results of the first meeting between new French President Emmanuel Macron and head of the Russian state Vladimir Putin were, even if not a breakthrough, certainly a step forward in Russian-French cooperation," Russian State Duma international affairs committee head Leonid Slutsky told reporters on Monday.
This was demonstrated by their open and honest dialogue, primarily on the situation in Syria, during which the parties discussed new avenues for interaction in the fight against international terrorism and reached an agreement on setting up a special working group, he said.
"It is important that Macron sees the task of eradicating international terrorist groups in Syria's territory rather than the task of deposing the ruling regime as his priority," Slutsky said.
"Indeed, this gives hope that our contacts on this issue will be intensified," he said.
Nonetheless, efforts to step up the work within the 'Normandy format' on settling the situation in Ukraine are no less important, he said.
"I also would like to note Macron's recognition of the fact that Europe's future and key issues on the international agenda cannot be discussed outside of dialogue with Moscow. This gives good chances to improve our relations, which have a centuries-long history," Slutsky said.
For his part, Sergei Zheleznyak, a State Duma international affairs committee member and deputy secretary of the United Russia Party General Council, said that "the meeting between the leaders of Russia and France demonstrated their mutual interest in continuing to look for ways to bring our countries of the lack of understanding crisis that has erupted through the West's fault."
The Russian president's main message sent to the international community was a call to abandon any sanctions policy because it does not allow all sides to develop full-fledged economic cooperation, limits the possibilities to create more jobs and slows the process of raising citizens' standards of living, Zheleznyak said.
"It is obvious that the position of the new French president has been coordinated with his West European partners who actively supported him during the election campaign," he said.
As for the Syrian settlement process, Macron's remarks about the need to preserve Syria's statehood give reasons for cautious optimism, he said.
"It is important that Russia and France have outlined a common task, which is the fight against terrorism. We hope that the format of a working group for cooperation in Syria proposed by the French president will be put into practice," the Russian parliamentarian said.