France will not intervene on the ground in Syria - Ayrault

PARIS, April 6 (KUNA) -- France will not intervene militarily on the ground in Syria as pressure grows for a strong reaction to the alleged use by the Damascus regime of chemical weapons on a wide scale last Tuesday, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Thursday.
Speaking on television, Ayrault nonetheless said that the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict must be punished and he urged a new UN Security Council resolution to order an enquiry to establish clear responsibility for the deaths of more than 80 people, many of them children, in Idlib province two days ago.
"It is terrible. There are deaths, including the most fragile children, more than 400 wounded. That's the regime of Bashar Al-Assad," the Minister exclaimed.
All fingers appear to point at the regime of Bashar Al-Assad for this chemical attack and Ayrault laid the blame squarely at the feet of the Syrian leader for more than 300,000 deaths and the creation of 11 million refugees.
A chemical weapon "is the most terrible weapon that exists," the Foreign Minister said, adding that preliminary information indicates that "a cocktail of chlorine and other substances" was used in the attack on the area known as Khan Sheikhoun.
Ayrault said this is not the first time such weapons have been used in Syria despite a commitment by the regime to rid itself of all chemical weapons and manufacturing facilities.
On Wednesday, President Francois Hollande called for "a strong international reaction" to the use of chemical weapons in Syria and he accused Al-Assad's regime of "war crimes" and called for sanctions.
"France wants to get a resolution in the (UN) Security Council but it is difficult," Ayrault indicated, noting the often-used Russian veto, sometimes backed by China, when the resolution deals with the Syrian regime.
He said he was in contact with Russian and US counterparts to try to "negotiate" a text that would pass a vote. The UNSC is again meeting today to discuss the latest chemical attack.
France's chief diplomat said, on the other hand, that he was "not informed" of any US intention to intervene or retaliate against the Syrian regime, after comments Wednesday hinting at this by US President Donald Trump.
"I don't know. I am trying to find out...I do not know the American position. I am in contact with my counterpart (US Secretary-of-State Rex) Tillerson and with General (James) Mattis (US Defence Secretary) and they don't say the same thing," he said.
Ayrault reacted strongly to questions on whether France would take part in a US-led military operation in Syria after the use of chemical weapons.
"I am not informed (about this)," he repeated. "This is not about us entering into a logic of war on the basis of a hot-heated decision by (President) Trump. France is not a belligerent country on the ground in Syria against one party or another," Ayrault warned.
He recalled France was one of the top participants in military strikes against "Daesh", and he said defeating so-called Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria was a top priority.
He said it was important now to vote a resolution with an investigation concerning the use of chemical weapons and a second top priority was the continuation of a "peace process" that would bring an end to the conflict and a political transition. (end) jk.gta