Daesh is Like Cancer: 'We Remove the Tumor, But It Spreads Somewhere Else'

"Daesh must be destroyed. Unfortunately, this disease is like cancer: we remove the tumor, but then it spreads somewhere else. The radical Islam is there, and we will fight against it for many years," Lellouch said, adding that "this issue affects both Russia and the West," which is why he "has been supporting Francois Fillon from the very beginning."

According to the politician, Russia and Western countries should coordinate their efforts in Syria and Iraq to reach success in their fight against Daesh.

"It is absurd: on the one hand there are the Russians, on the other — the Americans, and in the middle — several other states, such as France. I think that this is in our common interest to fight against terrorism together," Lellouche stated.

According to the politician, France could play a key role in uniting the two coalitions.

"It is important to have a trusting relationship with the countries involved, of course, including Russia," the politician told Sputnik France.

According to experts, Francois Fillon, who recently won the first round of The Republicans party primaries in France, could try to reach an agreement between Europe and Russia and improve relations between the two countries.
In Lellouche's opinion, there could be some differences in perception of the situation in the Middle East, but in general, challenges to all countries are the same.

"There are different positions on the issue, but I don't think, for example, that President Putin has signed some kind of conspiracy pact with Bashar Assad to keep him (Assad) in power for thirty years. This is not about it. The question is: who is the main enemy. The main enemy for us is Daesh, the Islamic State. This is not Bashar Assad who has been bombing or killing people in France. Assassins have been sent by Daesh," the politician stressed.

Daesh claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks that took place across Europe over the last year, with France becoming one of the main targets of Daesh terrorists. According to the politician, the West should make every possible effort to destroy the terrorist group and establish cooperation with every party involved in the fight, including Syria and Russia.

In early January 2015, Islamists killed a total of 17 people in attacks at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's office and a kosher food shop in Paris. On November 13, 2015, Daesh terrorists conducted a series of coordinated attacks in the French capital, killing 130 people and injuring more than 350, many critically.

Following the attacks, France declared a state of emergency, which was further extended for six months after a deadly truck attack in the seaside resort of Nice on July 14, 2016. At least 84 people, including children, were killed and hundreds of others were injured.