US ready to work with Russia on no-fly zones in Syria peace bid
THE US has offered to work with Russia on establishing no-fly zones in Syria, in the hope that the two countries can overcome their differences to try to stabilise the war-ravaged country.
Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, lauded US and Russian co-operation in establishing de-escalation zones in Syria and said it was evidence “that our two nations are capable of further progress”. He added: “The United States is prepared to explore the possibility of establishing with Russia joint mechanisms for ensuring stability, including no-fly zones and on-the-ground ceasefire observers.”
No-fly zones would involve the grounding of both regime and international warplanes above Syria and would bring relief for hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians and encourage refugees to return.
The appeal echoed entreaties made to Russia by the Obama administration that were largely ignored by Moscow, but the latest offer came just two days before President Trump’s first face-toface meeting with Vladimir Putin, due to take place today on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg.
Russia, Iran and Turkey, the three main international power brokers in the conflict, have been trying to sort out a deal for “de-escalation zones” at talks in Astana, the Kazakh capital. they hope that creating four so-called safe zones in four of the most bitterly contested parts of the country will lay the groundwork for a nationwide ceasefire.
The US, a waning influence in the region, has been left out of the talks, which are running counter to Unbrokered ones in Geneva.
Charles Lister, of the Middle East Institute think tank in Washington, cautioned against a US approach in Syria that relied on Russia, which backs President Bashar al-assad’s regime.
“Russia is neither capable nor willing to give us what we want in Syria,” he said.
“Time and time again, the Obama administration placed its hopes in Russia as the sole guarantor of de-escalation, and time and time again the Obama administration was left disappointed.
“Why do we think this time will be any different?”