After Minister Fidan's call regarding 'ISIS', France fell silent.

In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, Nicolas Lerner, the Director General of the French External Intelligence Agency (DGSE), made striking assessments regarding France's stance on counter-terrorism and the terrorist organization ISIS. Lerner stated that ISIS has been largely defeated, but argued that terrorist activities continue, particularly in the Syrian desert.

"THERE ARE 3 ISSUES REGARDING TERRORISM IN SYRIA"

Emphasizing that there are three issues regarding terrorism following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, Lerner noted that the first is a group of about 100 French "jihadists" who are freely roaming in northwestern Syria and are subject to judicial proceedings.

REMAINED SILENT ON THE REPATRIATION OF FRENCH CITIZENS

"The second issue is the French detainee women and men held by Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, who continue to be loyal and effective partners in the fight against terrorism, along with hundreds of adults and just as many children," said Lerner, who remained silent on the repatriation of French citizens detained in prisons in Syria. He pointed out that the new regime's stance on terrorist groups and ISIS is another issue, stating, "The new regime has had encouraging attitudes towards this issue so far. While taking this into account, we must be particularly cautious and demanding towards it (the new regime)."

"FRANCE IS SEEN AS THE HISTORICAL OPPRESSOR OF 'MUSLIM NATIONS'"

Noting that he has observed the weakening of organizations such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, Lerner stated, "Islamist terrorism is a threat that our societies will face in the long term. Therefore, we must always have the capacity to adapt to the mutations of this phenomenon without ever laying down our arms." Referring to the fact that France has been the Western country most targeted by "jihadist terrorism" in the last 10 years, Lerner argued that this is due to various reasons, including France's colonial past, which has led to it being seen as the historical oppressor of "Muslim nations," and the different reasons such as the "freedom" model represented by Paris.

MINISTER FIDAN HAD ADDRESSED FRANCE

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated in a statement on January 10 regarding the French members of ISIS held in Syria, "If there is something France can do, it is to take the people it defines as its citizens by the constitution out of prisons, bring them back to their own country, put them in their own prisons, and try them in their own courts."