28 Mar 2024
Saturday 2 July 2016 - 15:22
Story Code : 221282

Russia, US want to cooperate in Syria but 'Are Suspicious of Each Other'

Policymakers in Moscow and Washington are searching for ways to bring cooperation between the two countries to a whole new level with regard to fighting terrorism in Syria, but challenges, particularly the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, complicate these efforts, former US envoy to Syria Richard Murphy told Radio Sputnik.




"The leak suggests a serious effort inMoscow and Washington tofind some greater common ground ontargeting the terrorists," he said, referring tounconfirmed media reports that the Obama Administration proposed a new deal withRussia onSyria.


Under the agreement, the United States and Russia will join forces toimprove targeting and conduct an "expanded" bombing campaign againstal-Nusra Front, the Washington Post reported earlier this week, citing an unnamed official.

Both countries consider al-Qaeda's offshoot inSyria tobe a terrorist organization. But they differ onsome other rebel groups, who coordinate their attacks withal-Nusra Front. Washington views some ofthem as "moderate" and does not want Russian aircraft tolaunch airstrikes againstthem. For its part, Moscow has repeatedly asked the US toconvince such groups toleave territories where al-Nusra Front is active.

The deal, if true, will bring cooperation betweenthe two militaries to "an unprecedented level."

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="735"]Russian warplanes at Hemeimeem air base in Syria Russian warplanes at Hemeimeem air base in Syria[/caption]

The Kremlin refrained fromcommenting onthe issue, butRussian leadership has long called onWashington tojoin efforts tocombat Daesh once and forall. For its part, the White House has been reluctant toaccept Moscow's offer.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed that Syria is the key battleground when it comes totackling international terrorism. "It is inSyria that the fight againstterrorism is being decided," hesaid.

Putin praised Russian service personnel and diplomats fordoing their best tohandle terrorist groups and bringing peace tothe war-torn country. "At the same time, acting together withthe United States and other partners, we succeeded inputting inplace a ceasefire inparts ofSyria," he noted, adding that global challenges could only be resolved if major stakeholders work together.
"Both sides are looking toenlarge the common ground towork together, butthey are still suspicious ofeach other," Murphy said. It is "unfortunate because we know that Russia has no interest inassisting [Daesh], just the opposite. Certainly that's the American attitude."


This suspicion has been partially fueled bya difference ofopinions onthe fate of Bashar al-Assad.


Russia views him as "a safeguard againstthe collapse ofSyrian institutions," the former US Assistant Secretary ofState forNear Eastern and South Asian Affairs noted. Washington sees things differently. For US policymakers, al-Assad's continuation inoffice and inflexibility atthe negotiating table are detrimental toSyrian government institutions, he explained.
The Syrian government and the opposition need tocome upwith "a new formula, a new relationship betweenthe government and the people tobring this horrible situation toan end or tostart getting towardsan end."


By Sputnik News



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