Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Russia Sends Experts to Palmyra for Mine Neutralization, Asks U.S.-led Coalition to Join | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55349040
Caption:

Palmyra after ISIS withdrawl and pro-Assad forces enter-Getty


Palmyra after ISIS withdrawl and pro-Assad forces enter-Getty

Palmyra after ISIS withdrawl and pro-Assad forces enter-Getty

Moscow- Russia continues its attempts for the U.S., and the international coalition it leads against terrorism, to widen their scope on cooperation concerning the Syrian crisis.

After regaining control over Palmyra (Tadmur) city, Russia aims to convince the U.S. to conduct a counterterrorism missions inside Syria which is established in coordination with ruling regime forces.

Russian foreign ministry endorses its proposal by promoting pro-Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad forces restoring their control over the ancient city.

The strategic Russian initiative- after freeing Palmyra from ISIS- suggests that the regime has proven its capacity in confronting terrorism.

Russian News Agency TASS reported a military diplomat, revealing that the Russian ministry of defense will be proposing to all other ministries of defense of countries within the U.S.-led international counterterrorism coalition to participate in the mine extraction and determent from Palmyra.

The Russian diplomat had emphasized that the proposal will soon be handed over to American peers in Amman through the center created in accordance with Russian-American agreements on monitoring the cessation of hostilities in Syria, located in the Hamim airbase.

The proposal also might be passed over by Russian representatives in Geneva that are members of the ceasefire delegation assembled by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), he added.

The Russian diplomat expressed his hope for the international coalition approving the Russian initiative, and, if not all members, then a minimum few would contribute to mine neutralization in Palmyra.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov foresees a possible achievement on coordination between U.S. forces and the Syrian Army for future operations on liberating Deir ez-Zor and Al-Raqqah from ISIS.

However, Bogdanov emphasized that no existing cooperation is established. He anticipates collaboration to be arranged via Russian means of mediation, in other words, an indirect coordination.

As for the Russian-U.S. synchronization, Bogdanov confirmed the good state of affairs on coordination between Russian and American camps, whether in Geneva or on-field ceasefire supervision in Syria.

The Russian Deputy FM said that Russian-U.S. coordination is aimed for the counterterrorism campaign to reach maximum possible efficiency.

Bogdanov added that major forces in the fight against terrorism in Iraq and Syria are the Syrian and Iraqi armies and pro-regime forces.

The U.S. response on Russia’s attempts for employing Palmyra’s liberation to help pro-Assad forces gain foothold, was labeling Assad forces a terror partner.

Washington had previously asserted that the Syrian Army, being led by Bashar Al-Assad, can never bring about peace for the people of Syria.

The spokesperson for the United States Department of State had clarified that, according to U.S. perspective, the best given option for Syria and Syrians is to restrict the possibilities of Assad expanding his reign by terrorizing Syrians.