Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Structurally, the main thing: Putin and Obama discussed Syria and Ukraine – RIA Novosti

United Nations, Sep 29 – RIA Novosti. Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama spent Monday night first in the past two years, a bilateral meeting during which they discussed the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.

Following the meeting, Putin answered journalists’ questions and said that Russia will continue to help Syrian President Bashar Assad in the fight against “Islamic state,” but will not engage in ground military operation against the extremists; Russian and US military to establish a dialogue in order to avoid conflict in Syria; and the US role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine and so pretty active, because they “stand behind Kiev”.

The conversation, which took place on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, lasted one and a half hours instead of the planned 50 minutes. Protracted negotiations did not bring a breakthrough in solving acute regional problems, but recorded a resumption of dialogue at the highest level.



Who and how to help in the fight against the IG

Putin after the meeting responded to, perhaps, the main question that concerned countries interested in resolving the conflict in Syria and in the fight against the IG – will Russia to send troops for a ground operation against the terrorists.

“We believe that the work on the fight against terrorism must go hand in hand with the process of a political nature in Syria, but about any participation of Russian military units in the ground operations of the question and can not go,” – said the president of Russia.

“As for our participation, we think about it. Do not rule out, but if we act only in full compliance with international law,” – said the head of state and explained that such standards are solutions the United Nations and requests the Syrian side.

At the same time, Putin said that from this point of view of military operations the US and its allies in Syria illegal. To assist, according to him, it is necessary to “those who are really in the field, as they say, resisting and fighting against terrorists, including LIH” – in Syria, is first of all the Syrian army and units of the Kurdish militia, he said.

So the president, on the one hand, the stated intention of Russia, which, until recently, “remained unclear” for the US and its allies and caused them concern, on the other hand pointed out the relationship of combating terrorism and a political settlement. The latter aspect is almost word for word the same as the position of Washington, which can be considered as a “common vision” of the situation, even though the difference in approaches to the fate of Assad.



To decide the fate of the Assad

The White House confirmed that is now in Syria, Moscow’s intentions are clear: the fight against the IG and the support of the Government, that is Assad. And if the first part of Washington is perceived as “ok”, the second – in the negative. Bring closer the positions during the talks the presidents apparently failed.

“I have great respect for my colleagues – and to the American president, and the French – but they are, as I know, and it seems to me, are not citizens of the Syrian Republic, is therefore unlikely to be involved in determining the fate of guidance another state. It is still a matter for the Syrians “, – Putin said.

” conflict (in Syria) deep and, unfortunately, bloody, so I said that, along with the support of the authorities in the fight terror, we will insist on a parallel political transformation and the political process. As far as I know, President Assad agrees, “- said the Russian leader.

How to avoid” friendly fire “

Speaking of terrorists IG compared with the Nazis, the Russian leader noted that it is quite reasonable in view of the atrocities which they work. “And I would really like to see, knowing this, we have joined as many countries in the fight against this threat,” – the president added.

For these purposes, he reminded, Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq has established a coordinating center that will collect information needed to combat extremists. “It is understood, of course, not a single command and fighting under the command of the command, and at least coordination,” – said the head of state.

“It is open for that he was joined by all who are interested in the fight against terrorism. We are now talking about cooperation between the US and Russia on this antiterrorist track. We have an understanding of what is necessary to strengthen our work at least on a bilateral basis. Now we think together on the creation of appropriate mechanisms “, – Putin said.

He added that similar work will be carried out with Israel’s interests that Moscow respects, but without the creation of special structures. Among the other countries in the region that might be involved in such work, Putin said Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan.

Later, White House spokesman told reporters that Obama and Putin agreed to send its military to conduct negotiations in order to avoid potential conflicts during operations in Syria. In the area of ​​fighting such conflicts often end in “friendly fire”, which has repeatedly suffered from US allies in Iraq and Syria.

At the same time representative of the US administration after the talks expressed skepticism about the initiative to establish a focal point between the Moscow, Tehran, Damascus and Baghdad, making it clear that Russia, Iran and Syria, and so over the years to share intelligence, and the situation in Iraq, the Russians have little information.

Who is behind Kiev

Initially, the White House stressed that first of all, Obama plans to discuss with Putin the situation in Ukraine and the implementation of the Minsk Agreement on the settlement of the Donbas. But long before the negotiations, it became clear that the main theme will be Syria, taking into account the complications of the situation and the crisis of refugees from that country. As a result, even on the podium of the UN General Assembly, Obama has given Ukraine only about two minutes of his 42-minute speech.

In the hour and a half conversation the presidents of Russia and the United States, according to the White House, Ukraine has devoted half the time. However, its results representative of the US administration said only a few common phrases: Washington, still, for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and expressed “concern over the Minsk Agreement implementation in Ukraine, including plans to hold local elections the separatists.” At the same time, Obama said that there are “positive opportunity” to perform the Minsk agreement in the coming months.

Putin for his part was limited explanation of why even discussed Ukrainian settlement with Obama.

“What As for the possibility of more active US involvement in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, the USA and so active in this are involved, although this does not extend to the fore, as the work of Russia, France and Germany in the “Norman format.” However, the US a certain degree are behind the Kiev authorities, they are in constant contact with the Europeans, but we have between Russia and the United States established good business contacts between the Foreign Ministry and the State Department on a regular basis. Today’s consultation showed that our American colleagues in the material entirely, and of course, affect the process, “- said the president.

Reporters also asked Putin to comment on the behavior of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, who shortly before the presentation of the Russian leader left the room, where the UN General Assembly. “I have not noticed that the Ukrainian president was not present at my speech. I do, in principle, it was not very important, the presence of all, without exception. Especially those who are not interested and do not have to be present there,” – said Putin .

He graduated from the theme of Ukrainian President answered questions about the anti-Russian sanctions and isolation of Russia, which recently declared Obama on Monday to admit that the US does not want this. “From the beginning we said that the policy of sanctions, isolation, even in the modern world is inefficient and its goal is usually not achieved. With regard to a country such as Russia, it is simply impossible. It is enough to look at a map,” – he said, he is.

“secret meaning” and the possibility of dialogue

On the whole, summing up the first two years of the bilateral meeting with Obama, Putin called it “constructive, business, surprisingly – very frank.” He also stated that common ground had been found, but differences remain. “They (the differences) are known in principle, there is no need to repeat them. But, in my opinion, have the opportunity to work together on common problems,” – said the Russian leader.

If this Putin said that although this was the first full meeting of the two years, all the while they were with Obama met at international platforms and talked on the phone.

The White House also called the meeting productive and They noted that, for example, on the issue of Syria, one of the leaders of “not trying to score points,” and it was “common desire to understand in what way you can approach the situation”.

Members of the media meanwhile attempted to clarify ” the secret meaning of “contacts between the two presidents during the day. For example, a journalist interested in common UN photograph in which Putin and Obama raise their glasses, and Ban Ki-moon, who was sitting between them, absent – ostensibly that allow presidents to talk together.

“Nothing for that no, nothing of this is not necessary, it is ceremonial event and nothing else. This is a conversation that took place, was, indeed, I have already mentioned, constructive, detailed and, in my opinion, very open “, – Putin said and explained that Ban Ki-moon at this time to propose a toast to the rostrum.

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