Jean-Marc Ayrault: “Algerians Did Not Tell Me About the Visit of Syria FM Walid el-Mualem”

French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, denied meeting with the Syrian diplomatic official, Walid El-Mualem, during their visit to Algeria in the past few hours.

“Syrian file is a contentious issue between France and Algeria, which described the visit of El- Mualem as normal. Both countries are facing a new occupier, as they also faced Zionist occupier earlier.”

“Syrian regime forces control on Tadmor to destroy and expel ISIS elements is good. This victory does not absolve Damascus of its responsibilities. Restoring Tadmor is a victory for Bashar al-Assad, but it is also a victory for the alliance”.

“We can only be satisfied with retrieving Tadmor, but when it was controlled by ISIS in May 2015, the regime in Damascus had nothing to do but to defend it strongly. This is unfortunate. If the reaction was strong from Damascus, we did not arrive to what is happening now, and it could have been able to face ISIS and retrieve Tadmor.”

French Foreign Minister told the French media, after his meeting with President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, that “Syrian regime’s victory in Tadmor does not mean that it is nor responsible of chaos.”

French “Le Point” said, in its analysis of the visit, that Algeria supports Assad, while Paris reiterates that Bashar “Can not be the future of Syria”.

“Jean-Marc said that this is the point of disagreement with Algeria, as Algerians do not make of it a priority subject.”

Concerning the coincidence, which brought together the Syrian Foreign Minister and his French counterpart in Algeria, Ayrault confirmed that he did not meet with Walid El Mualem; “The Algerians do what fits with their policy. I never had desire or opportunity to meet with the Syrian Foreign Minister.”

For his part, Algeria Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, said; “There are positive signs of the dialogue between the Syrian brothers.”

“Visit of the Syrian counterpart Walid al-Mualem to Algeria is natural. Syrian delegation met with a number of Algerian officials, including the President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who received a message from Bashar al-Assad.”

“Syria is going through a special period of its contemporary history. There are positive signs that characterize the negotiations between the Syrian brothers. Situation in Syria evolves for the better and there is a cessation of hostilities and the beginning of dialogue, and the desire of the Syrian brothers to familiarize themselves with Algeria’s national reconciliation.”