Assad open to talks with some armed rebel groups: Putin
October 23, 2015, 4:44 am

Putin delivers Speech at the final plenary session of the 12th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia on 22 October 2015 [PPIO]

“I asked him: ‘What view would you take if we found, now in Syria, an armed opposition which nonetheless was ready to oppose and really fight against terrorists, against Islamic State? What would be your view if we were to support their efforts in fighting Islamic State in the same way we are supporting the Syrian army’,” Putin said.

“He answered: ‘I would view that positively’,” Putin said of Assad.

Syrian President Assad flew into Moscow on Tuesday for a meeting with Putin.

The leaders discussed their joint military campaign against rebels in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday, calling the meeting a “working visit”.

The Syrian presidency confirmed that Assad and Putin held three meetings in which Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu were present.

On Thursday, Putin also said that, at the root of the Syrian conflict was not just Islamist militancy but also “internal tensions”.

The Russian President said Moscow is considering the Syrian situation after Assad’s nod to opening discussions with some rebel groups.

“We are now thinking about this and are trying, if it works out, to reach these agreements,” said Putin.

During his surprise visit to Moscow, Assad thanked Putin for his decision to launch a Russian air campaign in Syria on September 30.

After the meetings, Putin said he was hopeful that a solution may be reached for the war in Syria, where Russia has been carrying out air strikes since the end of September.

“We assume that a long-term solution may be reached on the basis of the latest military developments and political process with participation from all political, ethnic and religious groups,” Putin said.
“This decision can be made only by the Syrian people. Syria is a friendly country. And we are ready to support it not only militarily but politically as well.”

Russia has in the past few years pushed multilateralism, especially in the foundation of BRICS, and its role in establishing the New Development Bank. Moscow played a significant role in bringing Washington (as a member of the P5+1) and Tehran together to negotiate an agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

But it is in Syria – and the battle there against extremist Islam – that Russia’s diplomatic initiatives have taken center stage.

TBP and Agencies