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| Boris Johnson and Jean-Marc Ayrault set aside differences | Boris Johnson and Jean-Marc Ayrault set aside differences |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Boris Johnson, the UK foreign minister, and his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, have put on a show of fraternity at a meeting in Paris, setting aside their differences and finding common ground in a call for the Syrian regime to end its siege on Aleppo. | Boris Johnson, the UK foreign minister, and his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, have put on a show of fraternity at a meeting in Paris, setting aside their differences and finding common ground in a call for the Syrian regime to end its siege on Aleppo. |
| “The ministers solemnly called upon the Syrian regime’s allies to bring an immediate end to these operations, which violate the truce agreed in Munich and international law,” the pair said in a joint statement. | “The ministers solemnly called upon the Syrian regime’s allies to bring an immediate end to these operations, which violate the truce agreed in Munich and international law,” the pair said in a joint statement. |
| Related: Boris Johnson set for talks with French foreign minister | Related: Boris Johnson set for talks with French foreign minister |
| Johnson and Ayrault have been at loggerheads over the former’s role in the Vote Leave campaign during the EU referendum. Reacting to Johnson’s appointment as foreign secretary two weeks ago, Ayrault described him as a liar with his back against the wall. | Johnson and Ayrault have been at loggerheads over the former’s role in the Vote Leave campaign during the EU referendum. Reacting to Johnson’s appointment as foreign secretary two weeks ago, Ayrault described him as a liar with his back against the wall. |
| But at a working lunch in Paris – described in a tweet by Johnson as warm – the two men focused on the crisis in Syria as much as European affairs. Both countries are waiting for the British cabinet to work out a negotiating position on Brexit, and are in any case preoccupied with tackling Islamic State domestically and in the Middle East. | But at a working lunch in Paris – described in a tweet by Johnson as warm – the two men focused on the crisis in Syria as much as European affairs. Both countries are waiting for the British cabinet to work out a negotiating position on Brexit, and are in any case preoccupied with tackling Islamic State domestically and in the Middle East. |
| The statement said the consequences of the siege, which has trapped 300,000 people, “are already disastrous and could generate further refugees”. It also “makes it impossible for peace negotiations to resume”. The ministers called for the cessation of hostilities agreement “to be fully and immediately restored, and for progress towards the establishment of a transitional authority with full executive powers”. | The statement said the consequences of the siege, which has trapped 300,000 people, “are already disastrous and could generate further refugees”. It also “makes it impossible for peace negotiations to resume”. The ministers called for the cessation of hostilities agreement “to be fully and immediately restored, and for progress towards the establishment of a transitional authority with full executive powers”. |
| “The ministers stressed that Russia in particular has a unique ability to persuade the [Bashar al-]Assad regime to end the war and return to the negotiating table,” the statement said. | “The ministers stressed that Russia in particular has a unique ability to persuade the [Bashar al-]Assad regime to end the war and return to the negotiating table,” the statement said. |
| Aleppo residents in rebel-held districts are suffering food shortages and rising prices since regime forces cut off the opposition’s main supply route into the city earlier this month. Russia says three corridors are to be opened offering civilians safe passage from the besieged area, with a fourth for armed rebels. Assad has also offered an amnesty to rebels who surrender. But the regime’s aim is clearly to isolate rebel fighters ahead of a siege and bombardment that is likely to lead to slaughter and even more hardship. | Aleppo residents in rebel-held districts are suffering food shortages and rising prices since regime forces cut off the opposition’s main supply route into the city earlier this month. Russia says three corridors are to be opened offering civilians safe passage from the besieged area, with a fourth for armed rebels. Assad has also offered an amnesty to rebels who surrender. But the regime’s aim is clearly to isolate rebel fighters ahead of a siege and bombardment that is likely to lead to slaughter and even more hardship. |
| Pledging the UK’s solidarity with France in the wake of the latest Isis-inspired attacks, Johnson said he believed the UK’s allies would win their struggle against the group, which has claimed the killers of a priest in Normandy on Tuesday was its “soldiers”. | Pledging the UK’s solidarity with France in the wake of the latest Isis-inspired attacks, Johnson said he believed the UK’s allies would win their struggle against the group, which has claimed the killers of a priest in Normandy on Tuesday was its “soldiers”. |
| Johnson said Ayrault had reaffirmed their shared commitment to the Le Touquet agreement, which allows British border checks to take place on French soil. The French right have spoken out against the agreement, but it is not clear if their challenge has been mounted for any other reason than electioneering in advance of next year’s presidential election. | Johnson said Ayrault had reaffirmed their shared commitment to the Le Touquet agreement, which allows British border checks to take place on French soil. The French right have spoken out against the agreement, but it is not clear if their challenge has been mounted for any other reason than electioneering in advance of next year’s presidential election. |
| Johnson said: “Mr Ayrault and I agreed that Daesh [Isis] poses a direct threat to both our countries, as we have seen this week. We are clear that Daesh does not represent Islam. Together with France, the UK is playing a leading role in the global coalition committed to defeating them and we will win.” | Johnson said: “Mr Ayrault and I agreed that Daesh [Isis] poses a direct threat to both our countries, as we have seen this week. We are clear that Daesh does not represent Islam. Together with France, the UK is playing a leading role in the global coalition committed to defeating them and we will win.” |
| Ayrault said France would continue to strengthen security and intelligence cooperation with the UK, adding that the two countries shared “the same concerns, the same will”. He said: “We must do everything not to give Daesh what they are looking for: division. We must defend our democracies, our principles, and that is not incompatible with the security of our citizens.” | Ayrault said France would continue to strengthen security and intelligence cooperation with the UK, adding that the two countries shared “the same concerns, the same will”. He said: “We must do everything not to give Daesh what they are looking for: division. We must defend our democracies, our principles, and that is not incompatible with the security of our citizens.” |
| The UN Syrian peace envoy, Staffan de Mistura, speaking in Geneva, said it would be premature to comment on Syria and Russia’s announcements of an aid plan for civilians besieged in eastern Aleppo and an amnesty for surrendering fighters there. The UN, “like everyone else”, was not consulted on the plan beforehand, he said, adding the situation in Aleppo was extremely serious, with only 2-3 weeks of supplies left. | The UN Syrian peace envoy, Staffan de Mistura, speaking in Geneva, said it would be premature to comment on Syria and Russia’s announcements of an aid plan for civilians besieged in eastern Aleppo and an amnesty for surrendering fighters there. The UN, “like everyone else”, was not consulted on the plan beforehand, he said, adding the situation in Aleppo was extremely serious, with only 2-3 weeks of supplies left. |
| Stephen O’Brien, the UN’s humanitarian chief, said the proposal must be guaranteed by all parties and “no one can be forced to flee, by any specific route or to any particular location”. | |
| Addressing the UK’s relationship with Europe in Paris, Johnson repeated his mantra, saying: “I hope I have been clear that even if the UK has voted to leave the EU, it doesn’t mean that we will be leaving Europe. We wish to be as close as possible to our allies, most particularly France, throughout the forthcoming years. I would like to take once again the opportunity to thank Ayrault. We have already started to develop a close and cooperative relationship and I hope it may continue while we face many challenges ahead together as friends and allies.” |