French defense minister calls for Paris, Moscow to jointly fight common threats, challenges
MOSCOW. Dec 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Common threats and risks require joint efforts from Moscow and Paris, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.
"We have behind our shoulders quite a long history of joint friendship, historical ties, and victories. And whatever today's conditions are, it is very important for us to be able to continue this dialogue because of our joint history and because of the risks and threats that have hung both over you, and over us," the French minister said at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Monday.
Today's meeting aims to ascertain the key points outlined at a bilateral meeting between the Russian and French presidents on November 26, 2015, Le Drian said. "We've got to ascertain the key points outlined to us at that meeting," the French minister said.
Le Drian also stressed that his compatriots were very touched by the manifestation of sympathy and solidarity by Russians following the attacks in Paris.