Paris aware of Lafarge-ISIS agreement in Syria: French newspaper
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, the French newspaper Libération revealed a secret memo that showed that Paris was aware of the agreement between the Lafarge cement company and ISIS between 2013 and 2014.
Libération said that a secret memo belonging to French intelligence, issued in August 2014, showed that Lafarge had concluded an agreement with ISIS to continue its activities in Syria.
Libération added that the memo included a permit from ISIS granting the company permission to continue its commercial activities and access to areas controlled by ISIS.
The memo indicated that there was an agreement with ISIS granting this permission, and that it was granted in return for a certain fee.
At the time of the agreement, Lafarge still controlled the cement plant located in the Jalabiya area in northern Syria.
Libération stressed that ISIS took control of the plant in September of 2014, and pointed out that the memo was referred to the magistrates who are investigating the lawsuits brought against the Lafarge company, regarding its finance of ISIS.
The Paris Court of Appeal is expected to deliver Lafarge the final charges related to the investigations of financing terrorism, violating the embargo, and endangering the lives of workers.
Lafarge is accused of paying 13 million euros to jihadist groups, including ISIS, between 2013 and 2014, to ensure the continuation of work at its site in Syria.
In November 2019, the French judiciary dropped the charge of complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria that had been brought against the company in June 2018.
On Thursday, the French judiciary is scheduled to announce its decisive decision on the various appeals submitted within the framework of the investigation into Lafarge’s activities in Syria until 2014.
The Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, must decide on six appeals.
An internal report, commissioned by LafargeHolcim, which was based on the merger of the French company Lafarge and the Swiss Holcim in 2015, highlighted the transfer of funds from the Syrian branch of Lafarge to mediators to negotiate with “armed groups.”
However, Lafarge in Syria has always denied any responsibility for this money reaching terrorist organizations.
During the hearing on June 8, before the criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation, Lafarge’s lawyer Patrice Spinosi stressed that the group’s only intention was “to continue the activity of the cement plant.”
According to him, “this is more than enough to justify Lafarge’s lack of adherence to a concerted plan to eliminate a group of the civilian population by generalized and systematic attacks.”