Roundup: Hollande says determined to act at home, abroad

Under fire at home for broken promises of more jobs and better revenue, French President Francois Hollande said he still has two more years as president during which he hopes to accomplish more.

Under mounting pressure to address the refugee crisis, he stressed "it is my responsibility to respond to the emergency, to make choices."

At a press conference, the Socialist leader defended his political performance, saying his "only concern is to act."

"It is our responsibility and it is my responsibility to respond to the emergency. In making choices, I will be judged by history. We also make choices that affect our future," the president said.

To Hollande, the primary task is the fight against terrorism at home and on the field which has forced people to seek refuge abroad.

The French head of state ordered reconnaissance missions over Syria starting Tuesday "which will enable us to consider air strikes against Islamic State," he said

Hollande ruled out any ground operations, however, arguing such a move would be "unrealistic."

"We have proof that attacks have been planned from Syria against several countries, notably France. My responsibility is to ensure that we are informed as much as possible on the threats to our country," he added.

In 2013, Hollande pushed for a strong international response and the use of force in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syria before U.S. and British allies backed down from the operation.

France has been providing weapons to opposition Syrian Kurdish forces but has repeatedly ruled out taking part in strikes on IS inside Syrian borders without a United Nations mandate.

Hollande stressed that "in the end, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must go."

"The solution cannot go through keeping Assad at the helm of Syria. How can a Syrian who has seen his family massacred accept to go back to the table with Assad?" he said.

At the two-hour press conference, Hollande expressed determination to help address Europe's refugees crisis triggered by wars and terrorism in Africa and Middle East. He said France would accommodate 24,000 refugees in the next two years

"This is a crisis, and it is a grave and dramatic one. It can be brought under control and it will be," he said thanks to a "permanent, mandatory system."

"Without a proper policy, we risk the end of Schengen and a return to national borders," he added.

"We must act with the countries of origin and transit. If we want to avoid the exodus, the challenge is to provide humanitarian assistance to all these countries. We need to work up a co-development policy," he told reporters, proposing to host an international conference on supporting refugees.

As for domestic affairs, the Socialist leader eyes 1.5 percent growth next year and confirmed the 2015 deficit gap stood at 3.8 percent and cut the forecast figure by 5 percentage points next year.

"It is the target that we have set and it is reasonable. We may possibly do more but I must ensure that our forecasts correspond to what can be done realistically," he said.

Looking to this year's economic performance, Hollande expected more than 1 percent growth, but "it is not yet sufficient to reduce unemployment."

Dogged by poor economic performances, the French president pledged a 2 billion euro (2.23 billion U.S. dollars) cut in taxes which would be compensated by a further squeeze of public expenditure.

"What the French are asking for is results, not excuses. I want France to be successful and France 2017 will reflect what we will have built," he added. Endit