Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 14
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: France should cooperate with Russia in Syrian operation in order to fight terrorism and ensure security, French General and expert on security and defense policy believes.
"Regarding Syria operation I think (wish) that now it will be crystal clear for the French government that the islamists are the enemy (whether they named Al Qaeda, Al Nosra, Islamic State or any other groups). The only and urgent decision is to bundle with Russia and coordinate the military operation within the largest coalition against this enemy," Senior Research Fellow at The French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS) Jean-Claude Allard told Trend.
Meanwhile he noted that European countries are unlikely will be ready to go for ground operations in Syria and such kind of operation is not a good idea.
Allard said that terrorists chose Paris for their attacks because France has one of the strongest military contribution against islamist terrorism (in Mali, Iraq, Syria) and it is easier to reach it than America. That is why it seems obviousely understandable that it could be a perfect target.
"If you add the fact that the interior security situation is worsening [in France] (several murders by means of weapons -Kalashnikov- in Marseille for example) and that it is difficult for security forces to watch some suburbs, you got a the right environment to prepare any concealed terrorist action," Allard said.
Moreover the expert noted that the security problems resulted from the problems in the Schengen zone.
"I just want to stress the fact that Schengen treaty is not about "open border" but state that the control should be done by the first country through which "non Schengen citizens" are entering Schengen zone. Nothing has been done to secure the border, to control and register the coming flow, and to clearly identify incoming people. That is the basic action to do to provider internal security," Allard said.
A number of terrorist attacks were conducted in Paris on Nov. 13-14. Four gunmen systematically slaughtered at least 87 young people attending a rock concert at the Bataclan music hall.
Some 40 more people were killed in five other attacks in the Paris region, including an apparent double suicide bombing outside the national stadium, where the French president Hollande and the German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier were watching a friendly soccer international. Some 200 people were injured.
Paris city prosecutor's office has said 128 people have been killed in the attacks, while 99 are still in critical conditions.
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