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Kerry searches for common ground on the Syrian conflict Kerry searches for common ground on the Syrian conflict as attacks spread
(about 1 hour later)
MUNICH-- Secretary of State John F. Kerry scheduled separate, back-to-back meetings with the lead negotiator for the Syrian opposition and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov here Thursday, searching for common ground that would allow political talks over Syria’s future to move forward. MUNICH-- Secretary of State John F. Kerry separate, scheduled back-to-back meetings with the lead negotiator for the Syrian opposition and Russia’s foreign minister Thursday, searching for common ground that would allow political talks over Syria’s future to move forward.
Riyad Hijab, the former Syrian prime minister who heads the opposition negotiating committee, has said that his group would not enter talks with the Russian-backed government until Russian airstrikes on rebel-held and civilian areas cease and humanitarian corridors are opened to allow safe passage of assistance to government-besieged towns and cities.Riyad Hijab, the former Syrian prime minister who heads the opposition negotiating committee, has said that his group would not enter talks with the Russian-backed government until Russian airstrikes on rebel-held and civilian areas cease and humanitarian corridors are opened to allow safe passage of assistance to government-besieged towns and cities.
Russia has proposed continuing its bombardment for at least another three weeks, to clear the area around the city of Aleppo of what it says are terrorist fighters. In Moscow, the defense ministry Thursday accused the United States, whose aircraft are attacking nearby Islamic State forces, of bombing civilian areas in Aleppo. Tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing the attacks have streamed toward Turkey, but have faced a barricaded border as Turkish leaders engage in a showdown with Western allies over the refugees and steps to end the Syrian crisis.
Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenko said that “two A-10 attack planes of the U.S. Air Force entered the Syrian airspace from the territory of Turkey along the shortest route directly towards Aleppo and delivered a full-scale attack on sites in the city” on Wednesday afternoon, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported. [Syrians stranded between airstrikes and locked border fence]
The allegation followed a charge by Col. Steve Warren, the Baghdad-based spokesmen for coalition operations in Iraq and Syria that Russian planes had bombed two hospitals in Aleppo. Russia has proposed continuing its bombardment for at least another three weeks, to clear the area around the city of Aleppo of what it says are terrorist fighters. Russia last year began airstrikes in support of Syria’s government, Moscow’s most key Middle East ally.
Konashenko also accused Western television of broadcasting images of bomb damage in Aleppo that he said preceded the current Russian air campaign. He said that rebel fighters evacuating the city were hiding among civilians, and pushing them toward the border with Turkey. The intervention also has sharpened tensions between Russia and West, complicating international attempts to end Syria’s five years of conflict.
In Moscow, the defense ministry on Thursday accused the United States — whose aircraft are attacking nearby Islamic State forces — of bombing civilian areas in Aleppo.
The allegation followed a charge by Col. Steve Warren, the Baghdad-based spokesmen for coalition operations in Iraq and Syria, that Russian planes had bombed two hospitals in Aleppo.
Russia also accused Western television of broadcasting images of bomb damage in Aleppo that he said preceded the current Russian air campaign. He said that rebel fighters evacuating the city were hiding among civilians, and pushing them toward the border with Turkey.
[Kerry’s struggles over Syria]
Kerry is trying to find a way to stop the fighting and resume United Nations-sponsored negotiations over a transition government in Syria that were suspended early this month.Kerry is trying to find a way to stop the fighting and resume United Nations-sponsored negotiations over a transition government in Syria that were suspended early this month.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who met with Kerry earlier in the week in Washington, and again Wednesday night in Munich, also attended the meeting with Hijab. The Saudis have closely advised opposition negotiators.Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who met with Kerry earlier in the week in Washington, and again Wednesday night in Munich, also attended the meeting with Hijab. The Saudis have closely advised opposition negotiators.
Along with Lavrov and U.N. Syrian envoy Staffan de Mistura, Kerry will chair a meeting Thursday night with representatives of the 17 European and regional governments who are sponsoring the negotiations. If the group fails to agree on a way forward that is acceptable to the opposition, the peace process is likely to collapse. Along with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.N. Syrian envoy Staffan de Mistura, Kerry will chair a meeting with representatives of the 17 European and regional governments who are sponsoring the negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, whose government backs embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, arrived here Thursday morning to attend the meeting. If the group fails to agree on a way forward that is acceptable to the opposition, the peace process is likely to collapse.
In Brussels, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter met Thursday with defense ministers from the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State to ask for more contributions to the effort. Carter and Army Gen. Sean MacFarland, his top commander leading the effort from Baghdad, planned to brief the group on the current situation on the ground, and the campaign plan to eventually route militant forces from their headquarters in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, in Syria. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, whose government backs embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, arrived Thursday in Munich to attend the meeting.
“The Secretary will frankly give a call to his fellow ministers, to be creative, to speak up, to contribute to the thought leadership on the campaign,” said a senior U.S. defense official who discussed the upcoming deliberations on condition of anonymity because they had yet to happen. “Because there’s no monopoly on good ideas just from the United States.” In Brussels, meanwhile, NATO leaders grappled on two fronts: the battle against the Islamic State and other militant factions in Syria and Iraq, and the waves of migrants fleeing Middle East violence.
NATO dispatched warships to patrol the eastern Aegean, seeking to disrupt people-smuggling networks between Turkey and Greek islands.
[NATO to confront human-smuggling networks in Aegean]
Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter also met with defense ministers from the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State to ask for more contributions to the effort. Carter and Army Gen. Sean MacFarland, his top commander leading the effort from Baghdad, planned to brief the group on the current situation on the ground, and the campaign plan to eventually route Islamic State forces from their headquarters in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, in Syria.
“The secretary will frankly give a call to his fellow ministers, to be creative, to speak up, to contribute to the thought leadership on the campaign,” said a senior U.S. defense official who discussed the upcoming deliberations on condition of anonymity because they had yet to happen. “Because there’s no monopoly on good ideas just from the United States.”
Asked how his push to accelerate the fight against the Islamic State might overlap with attempts in Munich to arrange a Syrian cease-fire, Carter indicated that he didn’t want to get out in front of Kerry.Asked how his push to accelerate the fight against the Islamic State might overlap with attempts in Munich to arrange a Syrian cease-fire, Carter indicated that he didn’t want to get out in front of Kerry.
“Our focus here is going to be on counter-ISIL,” Carter said using an acronym for the Islamic State. “It would certainly help to de-fuel extremism if the Syrian civil war came to an end.”“Our focus here is going to be on counter-ISIL,” Carter said using an acronym for the Islamic State. “It would certainly help to de-fuel extremism if the Syrian civil war came to an end.”
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are among those who have said they will contribute ground troops — most likely Special Operations forces — in Syria as part of a coalition plan against the Islamic State they have said has not yet been forthcoming from the United States.Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are among those who have said they will contribute ground troops — most likely Special Operations forces — in Syria as part of a coalition plan against the Islamic State they have said has not yet been forthcoming from the United States.
U.S. allies have grown increasingly critical of the Obama administration’s strategy in the fight against the militants, as well as in negotiations to stop the civil war, now in its fourth year, between Assad’s forces and rebels seeking to overthrow his government.U.S. allies have grown increasingly critical of the Obama administration’s strategy in the fight against the militants, as well as in negotiations to stop the civil war, now in its fourth year, between Assad’s forces and rebels seeking to overthrow his government.
In France Wednesday, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius called the administration’s commitment to resolving the Syrian crisis “ambiguous,” and lacking a “strong commitment.” He said that President Obama, reaching the end of his term, was unwilling to back up some of Kerry’s strong statements.In France Wednesday, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius called the administration’s commitment to resolving the Syrian crisis “ambiguous,” and lacking a “strong commitment.” He said that President Obama, reaching the end of his term, was unwilling to back up some of Kerry’s strong statements.
“There are words, but actions are different, and obviously the Iranians and Russians feel that,” said Fabius, who also said he was resigning as foreign minister after four years in office.“There are words, but actions are different, and obviously the Iranians and Russians feel that,” said Fabius, who also said he was resigning as foreign minister after four years in office.
Turkey, whose role in the coalition is crucial as a frontline state with a 500-mile border with Syria, is also engaged in an increasingly acrimonious spat with the United States over U.S. support for Syrian Kurds. Washington has allied itself with the Kurds in the fight against the Islamic State, while Ankara considers them terrorists, in league with separatist Turkish Kurds.Turkey, whose role in the coalition is crucial as a frontline state with a 500-mile border with Syria, is also engaged in an increasingly acrimonious spat with the United States over U.S. support for Syrian Kurds. Washington has allied itself with the Kurds in the fight against the Islamic State, while Ankara considers them terrorists, in league with separatist Turkish Kurds.
In addition to U.S.-backed combat against the Islamic State in northeastern Syria, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, known as the YPG, also appear to be aiding Russian and government efforts against the rebels in the northwest, according to rebel leaders around Aleppo.In addition to U.S.-backed combat against the Islamic State in northeastern Syria, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, known as the YPG, also appear to be aiding Russian and government efforts against the rebels in the northwest, according to rebel leaders around Aleppo.
Gibbons-Neff reported from Brussels. Gibbons-Neff reported from Brussels. Griff Witte in Brussels and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.