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Putin reaffirms support for Assad as he decries 'propaganda' against Syria Russia reaffirms Assad support and takes initiative on 'contact group' talks
(about 5 hours later)
Vladimir Putin has strengthened his support for the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, dismissing evidence of widespread atrocities as enemy “propaganda” hours before a high-stakes US-Russian summit in which Assad’s fate is likely to be the most contentious issue. Efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria may be taken up by an international “contact group”, including Russia, Iran, the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, it emerged on Monday, hours before a high-stakes meeting between Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin at the United Nations in New York.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS programme 60 Minutes, the Russian president offered some conciliatory language, praising America for its “creativity and open-mindedness”. He shrugged off descriptions of him as a gangster, asking “How can I be a gangster if I worked for the KGB?” Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian deputy foreign minster, said the group could meet by October, the RIA news agency reported from Moscow. The group conspicuously excludes Britain and France – both permanent veto-wielding members of the UN security council who are hostile to Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad – as well as China.
But it was Putin’s remarks on Syria that carried the most significance: he will be meeting Barack Obama at the UN general assembly on Monday for talks about the international response to the Syrian war and the global humanitarian crisis it has triggered. His remarks come weeks after he deployed warplanes and an estimated 1,700 troops to western Syria to help prop up the Assad regime in the name of fighting of Islamic State and other terrorism groups. Iran and Saudi Arabia are respectively the most active Middle Eastern supporters and opponents of the Assad regime. Putin had earlier strengthened his support for the Syrian president, dismissing evidence of widespread atrocities as enemy “propaganda”.
European diplomats were understood to be exploring the idea of reviving the P5+1 format – the five permanent members of the security council plus Germany – which achieved July’s landmark nuclear deal with Iran. A contact group is an informal grouping of influential countries that have a significant interest in policy developments.
The idea of a Syria contact group has been discussed by the UN and in diplomatic circles for the past few weeks, but this was thought to be the first time it has been mentioned in public by any big power. It appeared to fit a pattern of Russia taking the initiative on the Syria crisis at a time when western policy is in disarray.
Iran’s involvement will be controversial in the US and opposed by Syrian rebels – but the inclusion of Saudi Arabia could help persuade opponents. Turkey is also a key supporter of Islamist rebels. Egypt, the most populous Arab country, is fiercely anti-Islamist and recently restored diplomatic relations with Syria.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS programme 60 Minutes, aired on Sunday, Putin praised America for its “creativity and open-mindedness” and shrugged off descriptions of him as a gangster.
But it was his remarks on Syria that carried the most significance: he will be meeting Obama at the UN general assembly later on Monday for talks about the international response to the Syrian war and the global humanitarian crisis it has triggered. His remarks come weeks after he deployed warplanes and an estimated 1,700 troops to western Syria to help prop up the Assad regime in the name of fighting Islamic State and other terrorist groups.
Related: Vladimir Putin bids for major world role as his forces move into SyriaRelated: Vladimir Putin bids for major world role as his forces move into Syria
The White House has said it would welcome a Russian role in the fight against Isis but insists that Assad’s departure from power has to be part of the solution. His regime’s atrocities against civilians, through daily barrel bombing of residential areas and other means, mean that his continued presence serves as a recruitment tool for extremists, it says.The White House has said it would welcome a Russian role in the fight against Isis but insists that Assad’s departure from power has to be part of the solution. His regime’s atrocities against civilians, through daily barrel bombing of residential areas and other means, mean that his continued presence serves as a recruitment tool for extremists, it says.
In the interview aired on Sunday, however, Putin flatly rejected the evidence of war crimes by the Assad regime. The former KGB officer said: “Speaking in a professional language of intelligence services, I can tell you that this kind of assessment is an ‘active measure’ by enemies of Assad. It is anti-Syrian propaganda. In the interview, however, Putin flatly rejected the evidence of war crimes by the Assad regime. The former KGB officer said: “Speaking in a professional language of intelligence services, I can tell you that this kind of assessment is an ‘active measure’ by enemies of Assad. It is anti-Syrian propaganda.
“We support the legitimate government of Syria,” Putin said. “And there is no other solution to the Syrian crisis than strengthening the effective government structures and rendering them help in fighting terrorism – but at the same time urging them to engage in positive dialogue with the rational opposition and conduct reform.” “We support the legitimate government of Syria,” Putin said. “And there is no other solution to the Syrian crisis than strengthening the effective government structures and rendering them help in fighting terrorism, but at the same time urging them to engage in positive dialogue with the rational opposition and conduct reform.”
He said that the Russian troops currently in Syria were not there to conduct combat operations, but he did not rule out that happening in the future.He said that the Russian troops currently in Syria were not there to conduct combat operations, but he did not rule out that happening in the future.
“Russia will not participate in any troop operations in the territory of Syria or in any other states. Well, at least we don’t plan on it right now,” Putin said. “But we are considering intensifying our work with both President Assad and with our partners in other countries.”“Russia will not participate in any troop operations in the territory of Syria or in any other states. Well, at least we don’t plan on it right now,” Putin said. “But we are considering intensifying our work with both President Assad and with our partners in other countries.”
Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday evening that his country’s outlook was close to the Russians’. Tehran was willing to work with other countries in Syria but only if their priority was to fight terrorism, not change the regime in Damascus, he said. Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, said on Sunday evening that his country’s outlook was close to the Russians’. Tehran was willing to work with other countries in Syria but only if their priority was to fight terrorism, not change the regime in Damascus, he said.
“This doesn’t mean the Syrian government is not in need of reform,” Rouhani said. “But if a government says it simultaneously wants to fight terrorism and change the government in Damascus, it will be a futile effort.”“This doesn’t mean the Syrian government is not in need of reform,” Rouhani said. “But if a government says it simultaneously wants to fight terrorism and change the government in Damascus, it will be a futile effort.”
Russian actions in Syria have exacerbated the dilemma in Washington and allied capitals over what to do about the Syrian conflict. Despite the United States’ denunciation of the regime’s atrocities, it has not been prepared to confront Assad with military force. Costly efforts to support moderate rebel groups have resulted in only four or five US-backed armed guerrillas on Syrian territory. A former top aide to Obama on Middle East argued on Sunday that in the absence of realistic means to oust Assad, it was better to enter negotiations without demanding Assad’s departure as a precondition. Russian actions in Syria have exacerbated the dilemma in Washington and allied capitals over what to do about the Syrian conflict. Despite the US’s denunciation of the regime’s atrocities, it has not been prepared to confront Assad with military force. Costly efforts to support moderate rebel groups have resulted in only four or five US-backed armed guerrillas on Syrian territory. A former top aide to Obama on the Middle East argued on Sunday that in the absence of realistic means to oust Assad, it was better to enter negotiations without demanding Assad’s departure as a precondition.
“There may have been a time when it seemed that violence – an insurgency to overthrow the Assad dictatorship – was worth the lives it would cost in an attempt to produce better and more humane governance in Syria. That time has long past,” Philip Gordon wrote in Politico Magazine.“There may have been a time when it seemed that violence – an insurgency to overthrow the Assad dictatorship – was worth the lives it would cost in an attempt to produce better and more humane governance in Syria. That time has long past,” Philip Gordon wrote in Politico Magazine.
Instead, Gordon suggested the US explore the potential of local and regional ceasefires. Iran and Turkey have recently helped rebels and the regime agree to a precarious ceasefire around the city of Idlib, which an regime undertaking not to carry out aerial bombing. Instead, Gordon suggested the US explore the potential of local and regional ceasefires. Iran and Turkey have recently helped rebels and the regime agree to a precarious ceasefire around the city of Idlib, with a regime undertaking not to carry out aerial bombing.
In other remarks in his 60 Minutes interview, Putin offered some rare praise for Americans and in particular for their creativity: “Creativity when it comes to tackling your problems. Their openness, openness and open-mindedness. Because it allows them to unleash the inner potential of their people. And thanks to that, America has attained such amazing results in developing their country.”In other remarks in his 60 Minutes interview, Putin offered some rare praise for Americans and in particular for their creativity: “Creativity when it comes to tackling your problems. Their openness, openness and open-mindedness. Because it allows them to unleash the inner potential of their people. And thanks to that, America has attained such amazing results in developing their country.”
Putin said that his KGB past had helped his performance as president, saying: “Anything that we do, all this knowledge we acquire, all the experience, we’ll have it forever and we’ll keep that. And we’ll use it somehow.” He also pointed to that professional background to ridicule allegations of gangsterism, in particular from Republican presidential candidate, Marco Rubio. Putin said that his KGB past had helped his performance as president, saying: “Anything that we do, all this knowledge we acquire, all the experience, we’ll have it forever and we’ll keep that. And we’ll use it somehow.” He also pointed to that professional background to ridicule allegations of gangsterism, in particular from the Republican presidential candidate, Marco Rubio.
“How can I be a gangster if I worked for the KGB?” Putin asked. “Come on. That does not correspond to reality.”“How can I be a gangster if I worked for the KGB?” Putin asked. “Come on. That does not correspond to reality.”