(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) PARIS, Jan 2 (KUNA) -- French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation on Wednesday to discuss the crises in Syria and Ukraine.
The call primarily addressed the Syrian situation, with Macron warning Putin that the fight against so-called Islamic State terror group was a French priority and remains to be completed, Macron's office said.
"This fight is not over and is continuing on the ground within the framework of the international coalition," Macron told the Russian leader.
The French president also told Putin "of the need to avoid any new destabilisation likely to play into the hands of the terrorists." Macron further stressed the need to "recognise the rights of local populations and the forces allied with the coalition" and he specifically mentioned the Kurdish forces which dominate the Syria Defence Forces (SDF) who are currently nervous about further Turkish intevention in northeast Syria after an eventual withdrawal of US forces.
The French leader also reiterated his full engagement behind UN Resolution 2254, which he said was "the only path possible for stability and protection of civilian populations and towards peace" in Syria.
Macron also urged respect for agreements made last October 27 on de-escalation and an eventual halt to fighting in the Idlib area, which is under siege by Syrian regime forces, backed by Russia.
The accords made last October on Idlib "must be strictly respected," Macron said, noting more broadly that "all powers" must absolutely "assume full responsibility to allow a credible, constitutional process and free, impartial, elections under UN supervision" in Syria.
The French President separately called on Russia to free Ukrainian ships and crews that were captured November 25 year in what Russia said was a provocation by Kiev.
Macron equally welcomed a cease-fire commitmenet in Eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been engaged in a bloody war with Ukrainian forces. (end) jk.gb
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