JEDDAH – French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that France and the Kingdom agree on the need to strengthen the Syrian opposition and rebel forces.
“Our approach to the situation is identical,” Le Drian told reporters at a press conference following his talks with Saudi leaders including Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah here on Monday.
“We believe in strengthening the Syrian National Coalition and the general staff of general (Selim) Idriss,” the chief of staff in the rebel Free Syrian Army, said Le Drian.
“The National Coalition should be strong and respected... We support the Coalition on the military level, as well as the humanitarian and political levels,” he said.
France “hopes that the Geneva conference would succeed because there will be no military solution in Syria,” Le Drian said in reference to a US-Russian proposal for talks to end the bloody conflict.
Le Drian also discussed bilateral relations with Saudi officials.
“I was very delighted to be received personally as a minister by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The King told me that he has received me personally to show the great relationship the two countries enjoy and also to convey a friendly message to French President François Hollande,” said the French defense minister.
“We have agreed with the Saudi authorities to coordinate security assistance efforts to train, advise and assist the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces in building defense capability through military exercises and professional military education in order to strengthening our strategic partnership,” he said.
Speaking about Iran, he said that the new president of Iran may take his country in a new direction. “I think Iran is showing better flexibility and opening its arms to the world, but we hope to see concrete action by the Iranian government soon,” he said.
.. Only you and your mullahs live with dignity 
