By Nur Asena Erturk
ANKARA (AA) - The French foreign minister said on Tuesday that she wants to see the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, to be put on trial.
"The fight against crimes and impunity are among the French diplomacy's values," Catherine Colonna told broadcaster France 2 when asked about al-Assad.
When the journalist insisted and asked her if she wants to see al-Assad tried one day, Colonna confirmed it.
The French foreign minister said al-Assad was an "enemy of his own people" for over a decade.
Lifting European sanctions against Syria is "certainly not" on the agenda, she added.
France will not change its position unless al-Assad changes and commits to reconciliation and fight against terrorism, Colonna also said.
- Migration row with Italy
France and Italy are not in a diplomatic crisis, Colonna said, but she sought cooperation from Rome to tackle the migration issue, which has recently strained relations between the two nations.
"Italy is facing strong migratory pressure, particularly from the Mediterranean Sea. We long for better cooperation with Italy because we must fight those flows," Colonna said, adding that Europe is currently developing a migratory policy.
Earlier this month, French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin branded the Italian government as "incapable" of solving the migration problem, prompting Italy’s foreign minister to cancel an upcoming visit to France for a meeting with his counterpart.
Darmanin said there was a flow of migrants towards southern France, particularly unaccompanied minors, accusing Italy of being unable to manage the migration pressure.
However, Colonna brushed aside such a tirade, saying, "I will take up a visit to Rome on Thursday at the invitation of my Italian counterpart (Antonio Tajani)," while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to visit France in June, but the date is yet to be determined.
Italy has seen an increase in seaborne arrivals of irregular migrants making their way across the Mediterranean Sea on boats from Tunisia and Libya.
The two sides have often complained in recent months about mismanagement of the issue or a lack of cooperation in reaching a solution for irregular migration.
Many of those migrants, after being rescued and brought to Italian soil either by authorities or charity boats, then attempt to move towards northern Europe, including France.