Hollande intends to discuss transfer of power in Syria while in Moscow
MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax) - French President Francois Hollande said he intended to discuss the issue of Bashar al-Assad's resignation as Syrian president with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
"We'll discuss this issue, and I hope we'll have a dialog on the transfer of power," Hollande said in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station.
Hollande said that France was in favor of the resignation of the Syrian president. "Yes, this is my position and the position of whole France, and not only France by the way. We all understand that the Syrian opposition is expanding, it's becoming more and more legitimate, and it's taking some responsibility for the future of the country. And the opposition doesn't envisage dialog with Bashar al-Assad," Hollande said.
"Putin has created the circumstances, in which the Syrian opposition could enter into contact with the authorities. It wasn't that obvious a couple of months ago, but I'm glad that President Putin is agreeing to acknowledge the power of the opposition," the French president said.
Hollande said it was impossible to settle the Syrian conflict with force. The timeframe of the Syrian conflict's settlement will depend much on Putin's position on the issue, the French president said. "A lot will depend on the position of President Putin as well as on our position, of course," he said.