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| Russia and US sign 'memorandum' to avoid each other while bombing Syria | Russia and US sign 'memorandum' to avoid each other while bombing Syria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The United States and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes air safety measures so pilots from the two countries steer clear of each other as they conduct separate bombing campaigns, the Pentagon has said. | The United States and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes air safety measures so pilots from the two countries steer clear of each other as they conduct separate bombing campaigns, the Pentagon has said. |
| The Pentagon press secretary, Peter Cook, said the document was signed earlier in the day and took immediate effect. | |
| “There’s a series of protocols in place that effectively are intended to avoid any sort of risk of a midair incident between our air crews and Russian air crews,” Cook said. | “There’s a series of protocols in place that effectively are intended to avoid any sort of risk of a midair incident between our air crews and Russian air crews,” Cook said. |
| “If they follow these protocols, we should not have the risk of engagement with Russian air crews over Syria.” | “If they follow these protocols, we should not have the risk of engagement with Russian air crews over Syria.” |
| Moscow also reported that both countries had signed the memorandum. | Moscow also reported that both countries had signed the memorandum. |
| “With today’s signatures, the memorandum of understanding is now in effect,” Cook told reporters on Tuesday. “That was signed a short time ago, earlier today.” | |
| Separately, Russian media reported that the memorandum had been signed by officials in Moscow and the US. | Separately, Russian media reported that the memorandum had been signed by officials in Moscow and the US. |
| “The memorandum contains a number of rules and restrictions aimed at preventing incidents between American and Russian planes,” the Russian deputy defense minister, Anatoly Antonov, said, according to Ria-Novosti. | “The memorandum contains a number of rules and restrictions aimed at preventing incidents between American and Russian planes,” the Russian deputy defense minister, Anatoly Antonov, said, according to Ria-Novosti. |
| Related: 'Deconflict': buzzword to prevent risk of a US-Russian clash over Syria | Related: 'Deconflict': buzzword to prevent risk of a US-Russian clash over Syria |
| The Pentagon says Russia had initially asked for “deconfliction” talks with the US after Moscow began bombing Syria on 30 September in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. | The Pentagon says Russia had initially asked for “deconfliction” talks with the US after Moscow began bombing Syria on 30 September in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. |
| US defense officials were furious after they only got a vague warning from Moscow about an hour before Russia began its bombing campaign. | US defense officials were furious after they only got a vague warning from Moscow about an hour before Russia began its bombing campaign. |
| Cook said the memorandum establishes several protocols aimed at maintaining professional airmanship, as well as the use of radio frequencies and the creation of a secondary line of communication on the ground. | Cook said the memorandum establishes several protocols aimed at maintaining professional airmanship, as well as the use of radio frequencies and the creation of a secondary line of communication on the ground. |
| However, he was quick to stress that the understanding did not signal broader agreement with Russia’s Syria strategy. | However, he was quick to stress that the understanding did not signal broader agreement with Russia’s Syria strategy. |
| “The MOU does not establish zones of cooperation, intelligence-sharing or any sharing of target information in Syria,” he said. | “The MOU does not establish zones of cooperation, intelligence-sharing or any sharing of target information in Syria,” he said. |
| “We continue to believe that Russia’s strategy in Syria is counterproductive and their support for the Assad regime will only make Syria’s civil war worse.” | “We continue to believe that Russia’s strategy in Syria is counterproductive and their support for the Assad regime will only make Syria’s civil war worse.” |
| The US is leading a 60-plus-member coalition targeting Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria and has been carrying out frequent raids for more than a year. | The US is leading a 60-plus-member coalition targeting Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria and has been carrying out frequent raids for more than a year. |
| Russia also claims to be targeting Isis and other “terrorists” but the Pentagon says it is hitting non-Isis rebels fighting government forces loyal to Assad. | Russia also claims to be targeting Isis and other “terrorists” but the Pentagon says it is hitting non-Isis rebels fighting government forces loyal to Assad. |
| Earlier Tuesday, a CNN report said Russian planes had twice in the last two weeks flown very close to coalition planes – within 500ft, in one instance. | Earlier Tuesday, a CNN report said Russian planes had twice in the last two weeks flown very close to coalition planes – within 500ft, in one instance. |
| “The Russians need to abide by these flight safety protocols that they have now agreed to because we don’t want miscalculations or misunderstanding,” Cook said when asked about the report. | “The Russians need to abide by these flight safety protocols that they have now agreed to because we don’t want miscalculations or misunderstanding,” Cook said when asked about the report. |