Macron: removing Assad no longer priority in Syrian conflict

France no longer sees the departure of President Bashar al-Assadas a priority in the Syrian conflict, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, making the policy official for the first time.

The new French leader said instead that fighting jihadists such as Islamic State had to be the international community’s number one goal in a conflict that grew out of protests against the Syrian president in 2011 but has since become increasingly complex and multifaceted.

“The real change I’ve made on this question, is that I haven’t said the deposing of Bashar al-Assad is a prerequisite for everything,” Macron said in an interview with several European newspapers, including Britain’s Guardian, Spain’s El Pais and Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

“Because no one has introduced me to his legitimate successor,” said the French president, who took office last month.

“My line is clear: one, a total fight against terrorist groups. They are our enemies ... We need the cooperation of everyone to eradicate them, particularly Russia. Two: stability in Syria, because I don’t want a failed state.”