By John Keating
PARIS, Aug 30 (KUNA) -- French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday warned that terrorism is "the greatest threat" being faced by the international community and this threat is set to last.
Speaking to France's 181 ambassadors on post abroad, the French leader said his country was intensifying its efforts to fight terrorism which is emerging in many areas throughout the globe.
Much of the terrorist threat emanates from so-called Islamic State operations in Syria and Iraq, where France has recently increased its military activity against this extremist group. But Hollande cautioned that threats from this group and others had emerged in other areas.
"In Libya, in Yemen, in Egypt, in Somalia, Nigeria, with Boko Haram, and even in Asia recently in Bangladesh (and) I could continue the list," he said. "The whole world in therefore concerned, and it will be for the duration," he added.
He said France and the international community must not only act against terrorism but "prepare for this war that will be long." He urged "all partners" to work together to fight the scourge of terrorism.
Hollande stressed that France and the United States and the NATO alliance were working together to improve cooperation and coordination in Syria, where IS has taken control of large areas but is under increasing pressure to retreat and is losing ground.
He also indicated "regular exchanges" with Russia on the Syrian question and he urged that Russia become "an actor" in finding a settlement to the conflict, rather than "a protagonist" involved in the military campaign to support the Damascus regime.
A diplomatic source told KUNA that Hollande discussed Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the side-lines of the latest G20 meeting and that Putin is coming to Paris for talks on October 19, when the subject will be broached again. But Hollande also warned that terrorism cannot be defeated if the sources of conflict are not addressed.
"If we want to take a lucid look at this, there will be no victorious fight against terrorism if the crises that give it a fertile ground do not find (solutions)," the President remarked.
Among these crises, he cited the "horrible tragedy" in Syria, with more than 300,000 dead, five million refugees outside the country and nine million internally displaced.
Hollande condemned the terrible humanitarian catastrophe in Syria, the use of chemical weapons by the regime and probably by the Islamic State forces and the huge number of abuses of human rights and myriad violations of humanitarian law.
"There must be a halt to this carnage and France calls for this immediately," the French leader stated, adding that "these crimes cannot go unpunished." He further warned about the risk of the Syrian war spreading and he said it had "grave consequences for the region, for Europe and (France's) own security." "Today the massive presence of foreign forces in Syria demonstrates the internationalisation of the conflict," he warned.
The recent entry of Turkish troops into Syria to combat Islamic State "can be perfectly understood" in view of the terror attacks carried out by IS in Turkey, Hollande continued. But he spoke out to caution against the Turkish action against Kurdish forces, which are supported by the Coalition, saying this kind of action was "contradictory and brings the risk of a general blow-up" in the conflict.
Hollande reiterated a frequent call for a halt to the fighting and a resumption of the peace process which he said exists and should be used.
"The (Syrian) regime and its supporters think the solution is military while the way out is political," he affirmed, noting that the peace negotiations track has never really been exploited to the full.
Hollande also addressed the moribund Middle East peace process that France has been seeking to revive, notably by hosting a ministerial conference in June to establish a framework for fresh talks between Israelis and Palestinians.
Even if the move has been rejected by Israel, Hollande said on Tuesday that he hoped for "concrete measures" as decided at the June meeting and which are planned before the end of the year. (End) jk.rk