Russia warns Assad not to snub Syria ceasefire plan

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

President Bashar al-Assad was out of step with the views of his main ally, Russia, when he said he planned to fight on until he re-established control over all of Syria, Russia's envoy to the United Nations was quoted as saying on Thursday.

In the first public sign of cracks in the alliance between Moscow and Damascus, the envoy, Vitaly Churkin, said Russia had helped Assad turn the tide of the war so it was now incumbent on him to follow Russia's line and commit to peace talks.

Churkin said Russia was working toward a peaceful settlement for Syria, and that attempting to take back control over the whole country would be a futile exercise which would allow the conflict to drag on indefinitely.

Asked in an interview with Kommersant newspaper about Assad's comments that he would keep fighting until all rebels were defeated, Churkin said: "Russia has invested very seriously in this crisis, politically, diplomatically, and now also in the military sense.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-russia-syria-envoy-idUSKCN0VR240

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World | Thu Feb 18, 2016 7:05pm EST
MOSCOW | BY ALEXANDER WINNING AND CHRISTIAN LOWE

[geek tragedy]

1. another data point indicating partition nt

[bemildred]

2. Well confederation, I think, snipping off of little pieces will not be allowed.

We've had enough of that. It's still going to be Syria, sort of. The Lebanese model.

But it's a good sign, can you manage to quit while you are ahead? Russia is apparently telling Assad that's the deal. And we are apparently telling Turkey to deal with it or deal with Russia. So both trying to do their part.

And it seems pretty clear both we and Russia have the Kurd's back.

I'm waiting for Erdogan to have a haemorrhage or something but no such luck.

[geek tragedy]

4. Russians seem to be saying that Assad can't write checks

against Russia's account. When Lebanon is the aspirational model, yikes.

[bemildred]

5. "When Lebanon is the aspirational model, yikes."

Totally, but there it is, it's better than Syria.

[Xolodno]

7. In a fractured ethnic-religious region....

....where borders were drawn by Western Powers to pit each group against each other....Short of re-drawing borders (which will never happen), the Lebanese model may be your best bet.

[Bad Dog]

3. Putin is starting to realise it's a lot easier going in than coming out.

The Russians have already been is situ longer than was announced and Assad isn't the pet poodle Putin thought he was. Assad has no reason to acquiesce, if Russia leaves with IS and the other rebels intact it will be a massive humiliation.

Assad really is very shrewd indeed, a complete shit, but a very shrewd one.

[yourpaljoey]

6. Russia has had a base in Syria for fifty years - they aren't going anywhere

Putin is in the drivers seat, by design.
BRICS is looking to rebuild Syria,
further strengthening Putin's position.
There is a new big dog in town and that dog
is a bear - the Russian Bear!
I am guessing Assad will acquiesce to
Russia's request -- Assad ain't stupid.

[Cayenne]

12. Russians mean to colonize Syria

Shell and Haliburton were licking their chops at rebuilding contracts.

[bemildred]

8. Russia to call U.N. Security Council session on Syria on Friday

Russia's foreign ministry said it intends to call a session of the United Nations Security Council on Friday to discuss the Turkish government's statements about a possible ground operation in Syria.

Russia plans to table a Security Council resolution demanding an end to actions that undermine Syria's sovereignty, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement posted on the ministry's Internet site.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-russia-syria-un-idUSKCN0VS1Z0

[bemildred]

9. Russia Says Syria Bombing to Continue as U.S. Truce Talks Held

Russia and the U.S. held “intensive” talks in Geneva on implementing a limited truce in Syria, with the Russian side insisting it won’t stop a bombing campaign that’s bolstering President Bashar al-Assad.

The former Cold War foes held consultations on a “joint approach” to the cease-fire ahead of a planned wider meeting of major powers that they will chair, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. That gathering may not take place as scheduled on Friday because of the ongoing U.S.-Russia talks, she said by phone in Moscow. An American diplomat didn’t contradict the Russian account of the discussions.

A week ago, Russia, the U.S. and other countries agreed to seek a partial cessation of hostilities in Syria to begin within seven days, as well as humanitarian aid deliveries to besieged areas that are already underway. A Syrian government offensive backed by Russian airstrikes has overshadowed the diplomacy and brought the recapture of rebel-held Aleppo, the most populous city and once the thriving commercial hub of Syria, within reach.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said his country wants to coordinate its air campaign with the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-19/russia-says-syria-bombing-to-continue-as-u-s-truce-talks-held

[bemildred]

10. The Syrian Conflict Explained:

[bemildred]

11. Turkey's Erdogan says Syrian Kurdish militia used U.S. weapons on civilians

I will leave the irony and sarcasm to you.


Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said U.S.-supplied weapons had been used against civilians by a Syrian Kurdish militia group that Ankara blames for a deadly suicide bombing, and said he would talk to President Barack Obama about it later on Friday.

U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish PYD, which Washington considers a useful ally in the fight against Islamic State, has enraged Turkey and risks driving a wedge between the NATO allies. Turkey sees the group as a terrorist organisation linked to Kurdish militants waging an insurgency on its own soil.

Erdogan and the Turkish government have said the PYD's armed wing, the YPG, was responsible for a suicide car bomb attack in the administrative heart of the capital, Ankara, on Wednesday which killed 28 people, most of them soldiers.

Erdogan said he was saddened by the West's refusal to call the PYD and YPG terrorists and would explain to Obama by phone how weapons provided by the United States had aided them.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-turkey-erdogan-idUKKCN0VS1GU?rpc=401