The United States is willing to work with Russia on establishing “no-fly zones” in Syria as part of a joint effort to stabilize the war-ravaged country, the top US diplomat said Wednesday, ahead of President Donald Trump’s first face-to-face with Vladimir Putin.
In a wide-ranging statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Russia had a “special responsibility” to help create stability on the ground — or risk hobbling the fight against the ISIL Takfiri group.
Citing past cooperation in creating deconfliction zones in Syria, Tillerson made a strong case for both countries — in spite of their “unresolved differences on a number of issues” — to work together in Syria.
“The United States is prepared to explore the possibility of establishing with Russia joint mechanisms for ensuring stability, including no-fly zones, on the ground ceasefire observers, and coordinated delivery of humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Tillerson issued his statement before joining Trump in Europe, where the US leader will meet Putin for the first time on Friday on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. Syria will loom large in their discussions.
It also came as US-backed fighters inched forwards in Raqa’s Old City, in what Washington sees as a milestone in the campaign to defeat the ISIL group in its de facto Syrian capital.
“ISIL has been badly wounded, and is could be [sic] on the brink of complete defeat in Syria if all parties focus on this objective,” Tillerson said, according to the written statement issued by the State Department.
“In order to complete the mission, the international community, and especially Russia, must remove obstacles to the defeat of ISIS.”
“We call upon all parties, including the Syrian government and its allies, Syrian opposition forces, and Coalition forces carrying out the battle to defeat ISIS, to avoid conflict with one another and adhere to agreed geographical boundaries for military de-confliction and protocols for de-escalation.”
Source: AFP
