Dumb Answers to Hollande’s Questions!

Nidal Hamade - Paris

A delegation of the Syrian Opposition Coalition visited Paris and met with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Deputies Chamber before lastly meeting with President Francois Hollande. Talks with the French President were attended by Michel Kilo, Borhan Ghalioun, Salim Idriss, Farouq Teifour, and Souheir al-Atassi. Al-Ahed news site learned that the delegation also met with Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian upon the command of the new president of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Jarba.

Al-Ahed also managed to obtain a brief of the meeting's minutes, annexed with an analysis of Jabra's statements and notes on the mistrust between Ghalioun and Kilo who insists on having the former attend all meetings to get him involved, as mentioned in the analysis. The paper also notes that Jarba has limited capabilities and that his answers to Hollande's question were brainless. Moreover, the Foreign Affairs Committee concluded that the delegation is nothing but a bunch of light-minded!

The minutes included the following:

Hollande: What's the story of the extremist groups?

Jarba: At first we thought that they were a minority but then they started to grow and so did their role. We don't know where they came from or on what basis their role developed.

Hollande: This is your problem and you must solve it. As far as we know, they are more organized than the Free [Syrian] Army.

Jarba: The Free Army needs quality weapons to develop its organization and performance.

Hollande: According to our information, weapons shipments were sent to you but they directly reached al-Nusra Front.

Jarba: We ban any relation with al-Nusra and we will punish whoever dealt with it.

Hollande: You have to be more serious on this level.
Thus, conferees saw that there was no need to ask Hollande for weapons. Jarba then demanded to meet with the Defense Minister. Hollande approved, and the unscheduled meeting was held directly after talks with the French President wrapped up.

Jarba: We hope that France continues its humanitarian aids.

Hollande: But just for the relief. All humanitarian aids will be handed to European and UN organizations.

Jarba: What would you offer to us in France?

Hollande: You now have an ambassador. Your work is being facilitated, and media is on your side.

Source: Al-Ahed news