© REUTERS / Maxim Zmeyev
MOSCOW, 16 December – RIA Novosti. The main theme of the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Moscow, during which he held talks not only with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as expected was the Syrian settlement and improved coordination of the fight terrorism.
According to Kerry, the president of Russia, he said that the United States is ready to work with Russia to fight the terrorist group “Islamic State” (the Arabic name – Daishev prohibited in Russia). This Kerry made a surprise announcement that the United States and partners not currently seek to change the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Theme of Ukraine also was not forgotten, including in relation to sanctions against Russia from the EU and the US and with the implementation of the Minsk Agreement. At the same time US Secretary of State stressed that the US is not pursuing a policy of isolation of Russia.
The US is ready to work together with Russia against the IG
Previous negotiations between Putin and Kerry with Lavrov held seven months ago in Sochi, today will last three hours – one hour less than it was then. At that time it focused on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Now, the main theme of the visit Kerry expected was the Syrian settlement and how to make the fight against terrorism more coordinated and bilateral Russian-American relations.
© AP Photo / Militant website
A meeting of the Russian leader with the foreign ministers of the two countries started at 18.25 MSK. They were preceded by talks Lavrov and Kerry in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, followed by Kerry walked around Moscow, in particular, I visited the Arbat, where bought a few souvenirs, a total of 35 thousand rubles.
Opening the meeting, Putin stressed that Russia and the United States are looking for decoupling the most difficult crises. He noted that the Russian foreign minister told him in detail about the proposals the United States and some of the issues that require further discussion. Kerry, in turn, said that the talks on the Syrian settlement opened a number of new features, and Russia and the United States together can do a lot.
After the meeting in the trilateral format of Kerry and Lavrov at a joint press conference the talks were concrete and substantive, it is necessary to move forward to resolve the Syrian crisis, Russia and the US should continue to jointly seek a solution to the Syrian crisis at the meeting of the group support Syria in New York on Friday.
As the Kerry, on the effective collaboration of Russia and the United States benefits both parties and the international community in general, Washington is ready to work with Russia in the fight against the IG.
“There is no doubt that the US and Russia are working together effectively , benefits both parties, as well as the world community “, – said Kerry.
As an example, he cited the achievement of agreement on the Iranian nuclear program. An important step in this process was passed on Wednesday, when the IAEA Board of Governors agreed on an appropriate resolution, reminded the Secretary of State. “Our meeting mainly focuses on Syria, the fight against terrorism and the Ukraine. I reaffirmed to President Putin that the United States is ready to work with Russia to combat the IG,” – said Kerry.
The convergence of positions on Syria
In this case, Kerry stressed that Moscow and Washington closer positions on difficult issues on Syria.
“In fact, we found some areas of agreement, and we talked about the complexity of classification of terrorist groups. But I can not talk about what we have agreed on a bilateral basis. Because, as said Sergei (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov), the group (support of Syria) should take part in this debate, and it is important that all have contributed to the decisions, and the results that occur. But we bring closer the positions in regard to these challenges, how to deal with them. We certainly agree that the IG and An -Nusra (“Dzhebhat en Nusra” – Ed.) are beyond the scope of this process. All agree, it is the unanimous opinion “, – he said.
However, Kerry said what still managed to agree – in particular, the exchange of data between the Russian Federation and the USA on the areas of operations in Syria against terrorists.
“We also talked about the public areas we and Russia are conducting operations, and we talked about how to ensure that our military knew where someone works, “- said Kerry at a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Kremlin on Wednesday night.
Lavrov reiterated that Moscow and Washington have agreed on the next steps that will make the job of combating terrorism more coordinated.
“Approved agreements that have been reached between the military of the Russian Federation and the United States, and arrangements that apply to US-led coalition, which works against the IG. And in practical terms agreed on some further steps that will help this our parallel work to make a more coordinated and more effective “, – he said.
United States does not seek to overthrow Assad
Kerry said that outlined in Moscow, the US position on the impossibility of preserving the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power, however, according to him, the talks in Moscow, the sides focused not on the differences on Syria, including Assad, and on how to promote polituregulirovaniya
In this case, Kerry made a surprise announcement that the United States and partners are currently not seeking regime change in Syria.
“US and our partners do not seek to change the so-called regime in Syria. We have said that we do not believe that the (Syrian President Bashar) Assad has the opportunity to be a leader in the future, but today we focus not on our differences, “- he said.
Kerry added that it is necessary intensify the political settlement in Syria. “Today we are very thoroughly discussed the need to intensify efforts to ensure that the work in this process, together with the UN,” – he said.
In this case, Kerry said that at the meeting with Lavrov voiced Washington’s concern in connection with the alleged airstrikes videoconferencing RF for positions to moderate the Syrian opposition. According to the secretary of state, Russian President Vladimir Putin took note of this information.
In anticipation of the meeting on Syria in New York
A separate topic was the preparation of the meeting of the international support group of Syria in New York, which is scheduled for December 18. In particular, in New York, members of the group expect to continue the work on drawing up the list of generally recognized terrorist organizations and the formation of a group of Syrian Opposition to the negotiations with the official Damascus.
According to Lavrov, Moscow and Washington deemed it necessary to confirm the Vienna agreement on Syria as a UN Security Council resolution. “Agreed to continue to work on the terrorist challenge and to organize negotiations between the government and the opposition, we will, however, deemed it appropriate at this stage to confirm the agreements that have been reached in Vienna on 30 October and 14 November – Lavrov said.
On He said this will be done in the form of a UN Security Council resolution, a draft of which will be developed by December 18 in New York City at the next meeting of the International Support Group Syria.
“To this end, we support the idea of convening in New York this Friday, Dec. 18, the next meeting of the international support group to Syria at the ministerial level and hope that its follow-up, with the consent of all its members, we will be able to bring to the Security Council a draft resolution that will confirm all the principles laid down in the Vienna Document, in the Vienna statement of 30 October and in the Vienna statement of November 14, “- said Lavrov.
The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that at a meeting in New York, Russia expects more details on the initiative in Riyadh the new coalition to fight terrorism and to meet “friends of Syria” in Paris. Speaking of the coalition against terrorism in Syria, he noted that the preferred collective format, including all the players and approved by the UN.
The topic of Ukraine and anti-Russian sanctions
Of course, , it has been affected and the theme Ukraine. Kerry reiterated that the sooner an agreement will be performed in Minsk, the faster the sanctions against the Russian Federation by the EU and the US will be canceled. However, he pointed out that the responsibility for the implementation of agreements is in Minsk on all sides of the conflict in Ukraine,
“We believe that should be performed obligations of each party under the Minsk Agreement,” – said Kerry. “We know that there is still much work to do,” – said the Secretary of State.
For his part, Lavrov said that Russia and the United States will use all possibilities for resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
“Both Russia and the United States in the development of the agreements that were reached between Presidents Putin and Obama support Minsk agreement and Norman format and will use all its capabilities to achieve full implementation of the Minsk Agreement “- the minister said.
United States does not want the isolation of Russia
Secretary of State US talks in Moscow stressed that Washington does not have a policy of isolation of Russia. “We have a policy that aims to isolate Russia. No” – said Kerry.
“But we have always said that when the United States and Russia are in agreement, it is in the interest of the whole world. I I think that this is a demonstration of the maturity of both the leaders and the importance of their role, “- said US Secretary of State.
The theme of isolation of the Russian Federation was raised not by chance – on the eve of the visit of Kerry to Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement that Washington on the eve of the visit of Secretary of State US sound statements about certain “isolation” of Russia in the international arena “.
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