13/04/2017 (Agence Europe) – The French President, François Hollande, has hailed the convergence of the French and German positions following the chemical attack of Khan Cheikhoun in early April, which has been attributed to the Syrian regime (see EUROPE 11764). “A common position of this kind would have been impossible in 2013, in the wake of the first chemical attack on Ghouta”, he said in an interview with the French daily newspaper Le Monde published on Thursday 13 April (our translation). He added: “Germany understands that the United States makes its own decisions and that the British are in the process of leaving the Union. So that leaves its long-standing friend, France”. (MB)