Russia seeks US help to rebuild Syria
Russia has used a closely guarded communications channel with America’s top general to propose the two countries co-operate to rebuild Syria and repatriate refugees to the war-torn country.
The proposal was sent in a July 19 letter by Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian military’s general staff, to Gen Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to a US government memo.
The Russian plan has received an icy reception in Washington. The memo said US policy was only to support such efforts if there were a political solution to end Syria’s seven-year civil war, including steps such as UN-supervised elections.
The proposal illustrates how Russia, having helped to turn the tide of the war in favour of President Bashar Al Assad, is pressing Washington and others to aid in rebuilding areas under his control, further cementing the president’s hold on power.
“The proposal argues that the Syrian regime lacks the equipment, fuel, other material and funding needed to rebuild the country and accept refugee returns,” said the memo.
The US in 2011 adopted a policy that Mr Al Assad must leave power but then watched as his military, backed by Iran and then Russia, clawed back territory and secure his position.
The US has drawn a line on reconstruction aid, saying it should be tied to a process that includes elections and a political transition in Syria. It blames Mr Al Assad for Syria’s devastation.
Gen Dunford’s office declined to comment on communications with Mr Gerasimov.
The Kremlin and Russia’s Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Syria conflict has killed an estimated half a million people, driven about 5.6 million out of the country and internally displaced about 6.6 million.
Most of those who have fled are from the Sunni Muslim majority, and it is unclear whether Mr Al Assad’s Alawite-dominated government will allow all to return freely or whether they would want to. Most of the armed opposition to Mr Al Assad are Sunnis.
“The US will only support refugee returns when they are safe, voluntary and dignified.
Rebuilding Syria will cost at least $250 billion (Dh918.30bn), according to a UN estimate.
Some US officials believe Syria’s dependence on the international community for rebuilding, along with the presence of US and US-backed forces in part of Syria, gives Washington some influence as diplomats push for a negotiated end to the war.
The exchange offered a rare glimpse into the military communications channel between Moscow and Washington, one that Gen Dunford has sought to keep private.
He speaks periodically with the chief of Russian military and has stressed that the two need candid, private communications to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to armed confrontation.
But it was unclear how rebuilding and refugees fit into those communications. Gen Gerasimov’s letter suggests that channel is also being used by Moscow to discuss non-military matters.
President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin discussed Syria and refugees at their July 16 summit in Helsinki. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the talks focused on “how we might get the refugees back”.
But US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said last week no policy change came out of the summit. The US government memo explicitly said the Russian proposal was not “an outcome” of the Trump-Putin talks but that Russian officials were trying to say it was.
The Russian cover letter for the proposal sent to Gen Dunford recommended the US, Russia and Jordan “form a joint committee to implement the reconstruction and refugee return plan”, the memo said.
Jordan is hosting more than 650,000 Syrian refugees.
The Russian letter also suggests that the US and Russia form a joint group to finance infrastructure in Syria, the US memo says.
The US drew a line on Syria reconstruction aid, saying it should be tied to elections and a political transition