France welcomes Aleppo provincial election

France welcomed on Tuesday the holding of the elections on March 2 in Turkey to select the 25 members of the Aleppo municipal council, and then on March 3 to appoint the 29 members of the provincial council of Aleppo and its region, whose purpose will be to manage administrative affairs for civilians. Spokesman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Philippe Lalliot said at a news conference that these elections reflected the opposition's commitment to moving toward democracy and they are an act of courage and civic engagement, in very challenging conditions in light of the continued shelling and fighting. "We also welcome the visit, at the same time, of the president of the coalition to a liberated zone to the north-east of Aleppo," he said. "We encourage the Syrians to continue these initiatives which provide the foundations for a democratic regime. France is, more than ever, committed alongside the Syrian people to ensuring that a free and democratic Syria becomes a reality," he added. Syrian refugees in Turkey had voted in Aleppo provincial and municipal elections in a first free democratic process held outside Syria.