France says compromise on Syria with Russia possible

France said on Thursday that compromise at the U.N. Security Council was possible with Russia to end the violence in Syria in the short term and that Paris was ready to work on a new resolution to provide humanitarian aid to Syrians.   

Speaking after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Paris would not in the long term accept the existing political status quo.   

"We can possibly reach a compromise on a short-term objective which is to end the massacres," Juppe told reporters in Vienna after a conference on Afghanistan.   

"We must do everything so that the violence ends and that a lot of humanitarian aid is given to the Syrian people," he said.   

The two countries were ready to work on a new Security Council resolution despite Moscow vetoing a version based on an Arab League transition plan on Feb. 4, Juppe said.   

"We are ready to work in New York on a draft resolution inspired by the Arab League to stop the violence and provide humanitarian aid," he said.

Reuters