Archive for the ‘Syria’ Category
Posted by seumasach on January 31, 2016
Another dark cloud arrived courtesy of a ridiculous interview from Britain’s state-controlled BBC last week where Putin was accused of corruption by a US Treasury official. No actual evidence was presented and the Kremlin labelled it “pure fiction.” Of course, this programme was filmed long before the recent improvement in dialogue between Russia and the West.
Despite these concerns, due to the seniority of the European officials publicly discussing a reversal in policy, feelings of hope seem well founded. Germany’s vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel also called for detente in early January. He admitted that some “forces” in Europe and the US wanted sanctions to cripple Russia, which would “risk a conflagration.”
Bryan MacDonald
RT
30th January, 2016
When there’s a natural rapport between leaders, relationships are easy. In such an atmosphere, negotiating is a doddle. Of course, when the opposite is the case, the reverse often happens. Small disagreements can explode into furious arguments.
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Posted in Battle for Europe, Syria, Ukraine War | Tagged: detente with Russia, Russian diplomacy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on December 17, 2015
This collective effort is working towards a UN Security Council resolution to empower a UN-endorsed ceasefire monitoring mission and to support a political transition process that will see Assad leaving office.
The British government continues to prefer the old script with it’s rumbustious, Gilbert and Sullivan style,”He’s got to go!” chorus line. How many encores they’ll receive in New York remains to be seen.
By George Osborne and Philip Hammond
Telegraph
16th December, 2015
In recent weeks, we have seen appalling events in France and America. Acts of terror have killed hundreds of innocent people going about their daily lives. They have been designed to divide the Western world and to spread fear across our great nations. Instead, we stand together, strengthened by our united determination to hold firm to our shared values and confront the evil that threatens us.
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Posted in Syria | Tagged: east-west coalition against ISIL, russian un resolution on ISIL | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on December 16, 2015
“On Tuesday night Downing Street welcomed the proposals from the Gulf-led nations but declined to comment on military support.”
But, presumably Downing Street didn’t welcome last night’s positive diplomatic developments in Moscow. As the US and Russia move closer, we move closer to Saudi.
Telegraph
Britain faced the prospect of being dragged further into the war in Syria on Tuesday night, as it was poised to support a newly-formed “ground army” from Muslim nations who could attack Isil within weeks.
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Posted in Syria | Tagged: Saudi coalition against ISIL, uk saudi strategic partnership | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on December 16, 2015
Sputnik
16th December, 2015
US Secretary of State John Kerry made public statements in Moscow where he announced that Washington has abandoned its isolation of Russia, according to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
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Posted in Global peace process, Syria | Tagged: east-west coalition against ISIL, US-Russia strategic partnership | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on December 15, 2015
“Lavrov also said that both parties agreed that the Vienna Accords on Syria must be backed by a United Nations Security Council resolution, adding that Washington and Moscow have agreed on the next steps for effectively coordinating anti-terror efforts”.
Sputnik
15th December, 2015
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has confirmed that Syria talks will resume in New York City on Friday, adding that he and US Secretary of State John Kerry are finding common ground.
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Posted in Syria | Tagged: East-West alliance against ISIL, east-west coalition against ISIL, russian un resolution on ISIL | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on December 7, 2015
“Who else is there? The answer is obvious. There is Assad, and his army; and the recent signs are that they are making some progress. Thanks at least partly to Russian air strikes, it looks as if the regime is taking back large parts of Homs. Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants are withdrawing from some districts of the city. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so.”
I’m glad someone else can see the obvious even if it is Boris Johnson. Amazingly, not a single MP was able to make this point in the debate last Wednesday in the House of Commons. Dave Davis, another Tory, came the nearest. With this bit of good sense, Boris is now positioning himself nicely for a future leadership challenge. He also has the great advantage of not having been in government during the Libya debacle, an issue which will surely return to haunt Cameron. Corbyn, who voted against it, is similarly well-placed.
Let’s deal with the Devil: we should work with Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad in Syria
Telegraph
7th December, 2015
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Posted in Syria | Tagged: East-West alliance against ISIL, russian un resolution on ISIL | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on December 6, 2015
The simple truth that , to my knowledge. not one single person was able to articulate during Wednesday’s debate in the Commons. Only right-wing politicians are allowed to say this, it seems!
Sputnik
Bashar al-Assad is for now the only person who can rule Syria and save it from overall chaos, French politician and leader of the National Front Marine Le Pen said in an interview with Le Temps.
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Posted in Syria | Tagged: Assad must stay | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on December 6, 2015
Assad emphasized that French and British participation in the US-led airstrike campaign in Syria is illegal under international law and will not be instrumental in defeating Daesh.
“It is legal only when the participation is in cooperation with the legitimate government in Syria. So, I would say they don’t have the will and they don’t have the vision on how to defeat terrorism,” Assad said.
Assad seems to be implying that the US is working in cooperation with the Syrian government. The upcoming ISSG meeting in Vienna will be very interesting. Could France and Britain find themselves isolated over the issue of a Russian UN resolution?
Assad Explains Why Terrorists Are Losing
Sputnik
6th December, 2015
President Bashar al-Assad praised Russia for its efforts aimed at defeating terrorist groups, which are trying to establish an Islamic state in Syria. The US-led coalition, in his view, has failed to deliver on the promise to tackle Daesh, also known as ISIL.
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Posted in Syria, Uncategorized | Tagged: East-West alliance against ISIL, russian un resolution on ISIL | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on November 24, 2015
There would be no question mark were the reference to Cameron being sidelined.
Russia, France Form Their Own Anti-ISIL Alliance in Syria
Stephen Cohen
Sputnik
24th November, 2015
The tragedy of Paris seems to have accelerated long-awaited political changes: “the United States can no longer play its self-declared hegemonic, or only super-power, role in the world, and Russia has returned to the center stage of world affairs”, according to NYU political science professor Stephen Cohen.
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Posted in Syria | Tagged: East-West alliance against ISIL | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on November 22, 2015
EU Foreign Policy Chief Says Solution to Syria Impossible Without Russia
Sputnik
22nd November, 2015
Russia and the EU can arrive at a consensus on the Syrian conflict thanks to common interests, according to EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini.
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Posted in Syria | Tagged: East-West alliance against ISIL | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on November 22, 2015
Yahoo
20th November, 2015
WASHINGTON (AP) — In an unusual alliance, a House Democrat and Republican have teamed up to urge the Obama administration to stop trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad and focus all its efforts on destroying Islamic State militants.
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Posted in Syria | Tagged: tulsi gabbard | Leave a Comment »
In These New Times 