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Talk to Assad to help deal with terror threat: Spanish FM

Xinhua, November 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo on Wednesday said he was in favor of cooperating with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in order to help combat the Islamic State.

Speaking to RTVE, Garcia-Margallo admitted he was not a supporter of the Syrian leader, but that as part of the struggle to combat Daesh and help bring a solution to the refugee problem, "the lesser evil is to come to an agreement with al-Assad to begin a ceasefire allowing aid to reach the displaced."

Garcia-Margallo hoped such a move would help Syria "start a political transition and above all attack our common enemy -- Daesh."

"We have to replace the 'Bashar yes or Bashar no' discourse by one of peace or war. If you want peace, you are going to have to get on with Assad at least on a temporary basis," he said. Endit