PARIS // French president Francois Hollande urged the international community to offer a “firm” and “collective” response after last week’s attacks in Paris that claimed 17 lives.
Speaking to Paris-based ambassadors from around the world, Mr Hollande said: “Our response has to be firm in the face of terrorism. It can only be collective.”
“We are waging a war against it (terrorism), but not a war against a religion but a war against hate,” he said.
“The attacks in Paris are an insult to Islam,” stressed the president, reiterating that “Muslims are the main victims of terrorism.”
“The most lasting response is firm and unified action for peace and international security. Because unresolved conflicts are sources of inspiration for terrorists and areas of chaos are their training ground,” he told diplomats.
Mr Hollande took aim at the extremist Boko Haram, who he said were carrying out “crimes of humanity” in Nigeria.
“France must give more help to countries fighting this scourge,” he pledged.
“It’s not just women being kidnapped. That’s already atrocious enough. It’s children being massacred. It’s villages, whole towns being razed,” he said, in reference to recent Boko Haram attacks.
Boko Haram fighters detained hundreds of women and children at a school in the north-east Nigerian town of Baga after a massive attack earlier this month, one woman who was freed said on Friday.
In a wide-ranging foreign policy speech, Mr Hollande also urged Iran to “clarify its position and intentions” in the Middle East, saying it had an “important role” to play in resolving conflicts in the region.
Iran and major world powers have given themselves until late June to reach a comprehensive agreement that would prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb, a goal it denies having, in return for an easing of punishing economic sanctions.
France, a permanent UN Security Council member and nuclear power, has thousands of troops hunting down Al Qaeda-linked militants in Africa’s Sahel-Sahara region and is part of the US-led coalition striking ISIL in Iraq.
It is a key player in diplomacy ranging from the Iranian nuclear negotiations to brokering a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
Mr Hollande has been applauded in France for his handling of the Paris attacks, both in terms of security forces’ quick response to track down the killers and his sharing in the grief of victims’ families.
He urged greater cooperation internationally to tackle foreign fighters travelling to and from Syria and Iraq, calling on European Union nations in particular to strengthen the bloc’s antiterrorism apparatus.
Despite calls by some former diplomats, political opponents and allies for France to restore ties with Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, notably in the area of intelligence, Mr Hollande said both Mr Al Assad and ISIL militants were the same enemy.
France has ruled out striking ISIL in Syria, where Paris provides equipment and training to “moderate” forces, saying that solely hitting the militants would play into the Syrian government’s hands.
“Assad is responsible for the Syrian tragedy,” Mr Hollande said. “Nobody believes that he can unite his people after so many massacres. The alternative cannot be Assad or the terrorists because they mutually keep themselves going.”
He said any solution in Syria could only be negotiated by representative members of the Syrian government and opposition, and that France was ready to work with the United Nations and countries with an influence in Syria to achieve a deal.
“When an international intervention is cancelled, then the international community puts itself in danger,” Mr Hollande said in reference to the US’ decision at the end of 2013 to pull back from striking Mr Al Assad, a move which irked Paris at the time.
“Conflicts that are not resolved are a source of inspiration for terrorists and zones of chaos become their training ground.”
He said France already proved its willingness to act after ousting militants in Mali in early 2013 and intervening in Central African Republic. But he said the worsening situation in Nigeria and Libya needed more international attention.
“France cannot carry on its shoulders alone what is required to resolve the crises in Africa,” he said.
* Agence France Presse, Reuters
