Diplomatic contacts ongoing between France and Russia on Syria

By John Keating PARIS, Oct 8 (KUNA) -- After a meeting here last Friday between French President Francois Hollande and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the Ukrainian conflict, both sides have agreed also to pursue close contacts on the Syrian crisis and the increased Russian involvement there, official and diplomatic sources said.
Friday talks in the French capital were ostensibly to deal with advancing the Ukrainian peace process, but the "elephant in the room" was Syria and the Russian decision last week to begin air strikes against what it called "all terrorist groups" in Syria.
A senior diplomat here said that the Russian strikes were "ambiguous" at the very least, and there is growing concern that Moscow's objective is to shore up the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad by hitting so-called "moderate" and less moderate opposition groups.
Hollande told Putin that he should only target Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets and Jabhat Al-Nusra, which is affiliated with Al-Qaida, diplomats said here on condition of anonymity.
But Russia has argued that it does not understand what "moderate" opposition forces look like and appears to be hitting all groups seeking to overthrow Al-Assad. This would include the weakened Free Syrian Army forces, which have the backing of France and other Western nations.
Hollande and Putin have instructed their respective Foreign Ministers "to work together on Syria," the French Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
But senior diplomats who report directly to the French and Russia leaders are also in contact as of today, it was indicated.
France's Diplomat Advisor to Hollande, Jacques Audibert and his Russian opposite number Mikhail Bogdanov are holding talks in Paris on Wednesday.
The two senior officials are in regular contact, sources told KUNA here, and they will be working closely on the Syria file. (End) jk.tg