Russia, France Narrowing Differences on Syria – French Delegation Head

France has moved closer to Russia’s position on the Syrian conflict, Thierry Mariani, the head of a French delegation in Moscow, told Sputnik Thursday, after a meeting with Russian lower house speaker Sergei Naryshkin.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova — Thierry Mariani, the head of a French delegation in Moscow, told Sputnik that the politicians have come closer to understanding their position on Syria: 

"We pointed at the meeting that the French position became closer to the Russian position these days," Mariani said.

Mariani cited Naryshkin as saying at Thursday’s meeting that Russia did not aspire to lead an anti-terrorist international coalition which Moscow insists must be conducted under UN auspices.

The Russian lawmaker also warned that removing Syrian President Bashar Assad from power at this crucial moment in the Syrian crisis would lead to the "collapse" of the Syrian army, fighting Islamists, and allow the country to be "cut into pieces."

Russia and France are both conducting separate air campaigns in Syria targeting the Islamic State extremist group, also known as IS, or Daesh in Arabic. It has been designated by Moscow and the EU authorities in Brussels as a terrorist organization.