France: Russia plays important role in defeating IS, says FM Fabius

Russia has an important role to play in defeating IS, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the press at the anti-Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) strategy meeting held in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris, Tuesday. The French diplomat stated that while military strategy was “inseparable from the implementation of the reconciliation policy in Iraq”, political discussion was vital, adding that Russia were an important part of those talks. Fabius also commented that by holding the anti-IS conference, coalition forces fighting the militants based in Iraq and Syria had been sharply mobilised “around one common political and military vision.” Fabius was joined by representatives from 21 core nations in the 63-strong coalition against the militants, known as the Small Group, for the conference in Paris. Several key players in the local and international struggle against IS were not invited, including Russia, Syria, Iran or a Kurdish delegation.