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French leader says Jordan faces ‘real threat’ from IS group French leader worried about suspension of Syria talks
(about 5 hours later)
AMMAN, Jordan — French President Francois Hollande says Jordan is facing a “real threat” from Islamic State extremists and that his country’s military cooperation with the kingdom is “exceptional.” AMMAN, Jordan — French President Francois Hollande expressed concern over the suspension of Geneva peace talks on ending Syria’s civil, saying Tuesday the development was “very worrying.”
Hollande spoke on Tuesday during a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in the capital of Amman. Hollande, who spoke during a visit to Syria’s neighbor and Western ally Jordan, said the decision by a Syrian opposition delegation to halt talks in Switzerland could quickly lead to renewed fighting, more airstrikes and suffering among civilians.
The French leader also says it is “very worrying” that indirect peace talks between Syria’s government and opposition have been suspended. Hollande says this could potentially lead to renewed fighting, more airstrikes and greater civilian suffering. A complete collapse of the talks would mean “no hope,” Hollande said during a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and underscored the need for a political solution to the conflict.
Syria’s civil war, now in its sixth year, has contributed to the rise of Islamic State, which controls large areas of Syria and Iraq. Both countries neighbor Jordan. Jordan has been significantly affected by the fighting next door, now in its sixth year. The Syria conflict helped to give rise to Islamic State extremists, who control large areas of Syria and Iraq, also a neighbor to Jordan.
Abdullah told the visitor that Jordan stands “shoulder to shoulder” with France, which has also been struck by IS extremists’ attacks. “I know what you are facing in this area,” Hollande told Jordan’s king, referring to the extremists. “The threat is not a virtual one, it’s a real threat at your borders. We are cooperating at the military level, and our cooperation is a really exceptional.”
Later Tuesday, Hollande was to visit an air base in Jordan from which French aircraft have staged airstrikes against IS. Jordan is also a member of the U.S.-led military coalition against the extremists.
The kingdom, meanwhile, has absorbed more than 630,000 Syrian refugees, out of a total of close to 5 million Syrians who fled their homeland since 2011.
Since last year, Jordan has further tightened restrictions on the entry of refugees, causing thousands to be stranded in a remote border area in the desert. Jordan’s government said earlier this week that the number of Syrians waiting to be let in has reached 50,000.
Jordan has argued that its security comes first and that it can only permit Syrians to enter after careful security vetting. Human rights groups have warned that refugees endure tough conditions and have urged Jordan to carry out the vetting at better facilities in the country.
Hollande said Jordan has “shown great solidarity, and there are still refugees coming from Syria fleeing the fighting around Raqqa or around Palmyra,” referring to current or former IS strongholds.
“You need to give them the support they need, but at the same time make sure that there are no terrorists infiltrating among the refugees,” Hollande added.
As for the Geneva talks, Hollande said it was “very worrying to see that the negotiations have been suspended.”
In Geneva, the Syrian opposition delegation said there can be no solution in Syria with President Bashar Assad in power, and called for international monitors to observe a cease-fire that has all but collapsed.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.