Fight against terror

Putin a �constructive partner� in Syria talks: Obama

Pre-conditions unacceptable, says Lavrov

AFP, MANILA: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised Russia’s role in talks to end the Syria crisis and offered the prospect of better ties if Moscow focused military strikes on the Islamic State group.
Obama said Russia had been a “constructive partner in Vienna in trying to create a political transition,” referring to international talks in Austria. But, he said, there were still differences over the fate of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, and Moscow’s current military focus on defending him.
“There is obviously a catch, which is Moscow is still interested in keeping Assad in power,” Obama said. But he added: “Those differences have not prevented us at looking at how could we set up a cease fire.”
Obama also expressed hope that Russia may shift the military focus from defending Assad to attacking the Islamic State group.
Putin’s government recently blamed the jihadists for downing a Russian aircraft over Egypt in October, killing 224 people on board.
“In their initial military incursion into Syria, they have been more focused on propping up President Assad,” Obama said.
“If, in fact, he shifts his focus and the focus of his military, to what is the principle threat, which is ISIL, then that is what we want to see,” Obama said using another acronym for the group. “We are going to wait and see whether Russia does end up paying more attention to ISIL targets. If it does so, that’s something we welcome.”
Obama was speaking after a meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Manila.
Meanwhile, Russia said Wednesday that following the carnage in Paris it was now clear that global powers should unite without any preconditions on the fate of Syria’s embattled leader Bashar al-Assad.
“It seems to me there are no longer any doubts that it is simply unacceptable to put forward any pre-conditions for joining forces in the fight against terror,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after meeting his counterpart from Lebanon Gebran Bassil in Moscow.  After the Paris massacre that claimed the lives of at least 129 people last Friday, French President Francois Hollande has called for the creation of a broad anti-IS coalition and will discuss the proposal with both US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.
Lavrov expressed hope that other Western powers would follow suit and would be more open to cooperating with Moscow in Syria.
“I hope that the change in position of our Western colleagues—which unfortunately came at the cost of the terrible terror attacks—will be seen on the part of our other Western partners,” Russia’s top diplomat said.
To help “mobilise a genuinely global coalition,” the UN Security Council should put together a firm “legal basis” that would enable global powers to fight the Islamic State group together, Lavrov said without providing further details.

 

Fight against terror

Putin a �constructive partner� in Syria talks: Obama

Pre-conditions unacceptable, says Lavrov

AFP, MANILA: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised Russias role in talks to end the Syria crisis and offered the prospect of better ties if Moscow focused military strikes on the Islamic State group. Obama said Russia had been a constructive partner in Vienna in trying to create a political transition, referring to international talks in Austria. But, he said, there were still differences over the fate of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, and Moscows current military focus on defending him. There is obviously a catch, which is Moscow is still interested in keeping Assad in power, Obama said. But he added: Those differences have not prevented us at looking at how could we set up a cease fire. Obama also expressed hope that Russia may shift the military focus from defending Assad to attacking the Islamic State group. Putins government recently blamed the jihadists for downing a Russian aircraft over Egypt in October, killing 224 people on board. In their initial military incursion into Syria, they have been more focused on propping up President Assad, Obama said. If, in fact, he shifts his focus and the focus of his military, to what is the principle threat, which is ISIL, then that is what we want to see, Obama said using another acronym for the group. We are going to wait and see whether Russia does end up paying more attention to ISIL targets. If it does so, thats something we welcome. Obama was speaking after a meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Manila. Meanwhile, Russia said Wednesday that following the carnage in Paris it was now clear that global powers should unite without any preconditions on the fate of Syrias embattled leader Bashar al-Assad. It seems to me there are no longer any doubts that it is simply unacceptable to put forward any pre-conditions for joining forces in the fight against terror, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after meeting his counterpart from Lebanon Gebran Bassil in Moscow. After the Paris massacre that claimed the lives of at least 129 people last Friday, French President Francois Hollande has called for the creation of a broad anti-IS coalition and will discuss the proposal with both US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin next week. Lavrov expressed hope that other Western powers would follow suit and would be more open to cooperating with Moscow in Syria. I hope that the change in position of our Western colleagueswhich unfortunately came at the cost of the terrible terror attackswill be seen on the part of our other Western partners, Russias top diplomat said. To help mobilise a genuinely global coalition, the UN Security Council should put together a firm legal basis that would enable global powers to fight the Islamic State group together, Lavrov said without providing further details.