Vladimir Putin backs Syria’s April vote, Paris fumes

President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy during a conference call Friday that the Syrian regime’s decision to hold legislative polls in April does not contradict the peace process.

By contrast, French President Francois Hollande criticised Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for scheduling the polls for next month, calling the move “provocative” and “unrealistic”.

“The Russian side noted that a decision by the Syrian authorities to hold parliamentary elections in April, 2016 is being conducted in accordance with the existing Syrian Constitution and does not interfere with steps to build the peace process,” the Kremlin said following the conference call.

Moscow added: “It was noted with satisfaction that the ceasefire regime is being observed on the whole, is bringing the first positive results — and most important — is creating conditions for the launch of a political process in Syria through the inter-Syrian dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations.”

The leaders also “expressed their readiness” to ramp up cooperation to solve the pressing humanitarian problems, said the statement from the Kremlin, which has been supporting the Assad regime with airstrikes since late September.

The Kremlin added that the leaders had stressed the need to “meticulously” observe the conditions of the ceasefire by all parties to the Syrian conflict as well as the need to keep fighting jihadists.

Meanwhile, World leaders hailed “real progress” in Syria on Friday, but fresh airstrikes showed the fragility of the week-old truce and the many obstacles still in the way of peace talks.

“This cessation of hostilities is by no means perfect but it has reduced the level of violence, it has created an opportunity for some humanitarian access,” said British foreign secretary Philip Hammond after meeting with his French, German and EU counterparts in Paris.

The group said the focus now was on convincing all parties to return to UN-brokered peace talks in Switzerland.

Separately, United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura said Friday the Syrian people, not foreigners, should decide the fate of their President Bashar al-Assad.

“Can't we leave the Syrians to actually decide on that Why should we be saying in advance what the Syrians should say, as long as they have the freedom and the opportunity of saying so ” Mr de Mistura told France 24 TV.