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UK and Russia agree to 'work together' in fight against Isis UK and Russia agree to 'work together' in fight against Isis
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron and Vladimir Putin have agreed to work together in the fight against Islamic State, Downing Street has said. David Cameron and Vladimir Putin have agreed to work together in the fight against Islamic State (Isis), Downing Street has said.
The two men spoke by phone early on Wednesday, after the prime minister called Putin to update him on Britain’s military action in Syria, following last week’s House of Commons vote to extend RAF missions against Isis – also known as Isil, IS or Daesh – over the border from Iraq.The two men spoke by phone early on Wednesday, after the prime minister called Putin to update him on Britain’s military action in Syria, following last week’s House of Commons vote to extend RAF missions against Isis – also known as Isil, IS or Daesh – over the border from Iraq.
Cameron made clear Britain’s continued opposition to the participation of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad – an ally of Moscow – in any postwar regime in Damascus, telling Putin the country needed “a government that all the Syrian people can support”.Cameron made clear Britain’s continued opposition to the participation of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad – an ally of Moscow – in any postwar regime in Damascus, telling Putin the country needed “a government that all the Syrian people can support”.
The prime minister also said he would consider Putin’s request for British experts to analyse data from the black box of a Russian warplane downed by Turkey near its border with Syria.
Turkey has confirmed it shot down the Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jet on 24 November, but Russia disputes Ankara’s claim that the plane had violated its airspace after being warned not to do so. The Russian pilot was shot dead as he parachuted into Syria, while another serviceman died on a search-and-rescue mission launched to retrieve him and a second crewman.
Related: Putin: 'foreign experts' will examine black box from jet shot down by TurkeyRelated: Putin: 'foreign experts' will examine black box from jet shot down by Turkey
The Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, delivered the black box to the Kremlin on Wednesday, but was told by Putin not to allow it to be opened until international experts were available to examine it in the hope they will confirm Moscow’s version of events. The prime minister also fended off a demand by the Russian president that he help provide British expertise to investigate how a Russian military plane was downed by Turkish military in November.
A Downing Street spokesman said tCameron expressed his condolences to Putin over the death of the Russian airman. The spokesman added: “They agreed that it was important to wait for the investigation to establish what had happened and the prime minister said he would consider President Putin’s request to send British experts to assist the investigation.” The downing of the plane, and the death of a Russian military pilot has led to a collapse in Russian-Turkish relations, and Putin appeared to try to enlist British involvement in the investigation as a neutral observer.
The spokesman said: “The prime minister updated the president on the recent House of Commons vote and the strong mandate the UK government now has to take part in airstrikes in Syria, as well as Iraq, to target Daesh. With Turkey a key ally of Britain, Cameron is unlikely to want to help since it might end with the UK having to judge whether the Turks had acted improperly. The Russians are understood to want UK assistance to interpret data in the black box of the plane.
“The prime minister and president agreed that the UK and Russia should work together, with other international partners, to tackle Daesh and the threat it poses, and on the political process to bring peace to Syria. The Russian pilot was shot dead as he parachuted from the aircraft into Syria, while another serviceman died on a search-and-rescue mission launched to retrieve him and a second crewman. The russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, delivered the black box to the Kremlin on Wednesday, but was told by Putin not to allow it to be opened until international experts were available to examine it in the hope they will confirm Moscow’s version of events.
“Agreeing that military action alone would not defeat Daesh, both leaders discussed the importance of a political process to deliver peace in Syria and the prime minister underlined the need for a government that all the Syrian people can support.” A UK government statement said the two sides have agreed their countries should work together in the fight against Isis, but Downing Street gave little concrete examples of how this greater co-operation will work in practice.
Cameron and Putin agreed that peace talks taking place in Vienna should focus on implementing agreements already made, working to a timeline for the establishment of a transitional Syrian government within six months, followed by presidential elections, said Downing Street. Britain continues to be critical of the way in Russian air campaign is not directed against Isis but against Syrian rebel forces.
The spokesman added: “They noted the talks taking place in Riyadh, hosted by the Saudi Arabia government and bringing together opposition groups, with the prime minister reiterating that those signed up to the Geneva principles should be part of these talks. Russia continues to insist outside powers cannot decide the leadership of Syria, and it is for the Syrian people to decide its government. The issue of Assad’s role in any transitional government is the single biggest sticking point between Russia and Iran on the one hand, and the west on the other.
“They also agreed on the need to cut off terrorist financing and the prime minister highlighted that the UK’s first airstrikes in Syria had targeted oilfields that Daesh is plundering to fund its brutal activities.” Talks are due to recommence in New York next week on how the peace process restarted in Vienna two months ago can be taken forward. There are also due to be planning talks on Friday between the UN, US and Russia.
Cameron and Putin agreed they needed to implement agreements already made, and work to a timeline for the establishment of a transitional Syrian government within six months, followed by presidential elections.
The spokesman said: “They noted the talks taking place in Riyadh, hosted by the Saudi Arabia government and bringing together opposition groups, with the prime minister reiterating that those signed up to the Geneva principles should be part of these talks”.
The Saudi talks are not being attended by the Kurds or the Syrian government, but are supposed to agree the negotiating team that would meet with the current Syrian government next year.