Kurds: Ex-President Hollande wants sanctions against Turkey

The former President of the Republic has voted in favor of sanctions against Turkey, which in his view is guilty of massacring the Kurds.

Former President Francois Hollande on Wednesday demanded sanctions against Turkey in case of continuing its offensive against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, allied with the West in the fight against the jihadists.

"The Security Council meeting this Thursday must decide on sanctions against Turkey, if the offensive continues, and the European Union must immediately do the same," he said in an interview with the Parisian.

For him, it is also necessary to "suspend" the participation of Turkey in NATO. "The Kurds are our allies, they led the fight against Daesh. Turkey is a member of NATO. How to admit that a country that is in alliance with us can attack a force that has been our main partner against Daesh (Arabic acronym of the Islamic State group) " .

The former president (2012-2017) recalls that in the coalition, the Kurdish forces "were our main ground support for fighting Daesh, our planes were able to maneuver through this joint action . "

A "quiet cooperation on the ground" that helped to contribute to "the eradication of Daesh in the north of the country, to Raqqa" . But, he recalled, it is Raqqa that the attacks that hit France in 2015 "had been conducted, decided, organized . "

Jihadist detainees

"France can not let the Kurds be slaughtered," said Francois Hollande, adding feeling "personally and politically accountable" .

It is also "for our own protection that we have interest in the Kurds continue to hold the territory of northern Syria and fight against Daesh," said the former Socialist president, noting that "these Kurds hold in their prison camps jihadists, some of whom are French .

"It is to be feared that with this offensive, these jihadists can escape and commit other crimes, in the region but also in Europe," he said.

France has "very firmly" condemned the Turkish offensive, while European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker demanded that the offensive be halted. Germany considered that the operation was likely to "cause a resurgence" of the IS and London expressed its "serious concern" .

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